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CQEffilGHT DEPOSIR 



r THE KING'S 
CUPBEARER 



AN HISTORICAL MORALITY PLAY ' 
IN TWELVE CANTICLES 

BY 
AGNES CHALMERS 



Published by 

THE CRESCENT PUBLISHERS, 

Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

U. S. A. 

TRUSLOVE AND HANSON, LTD., 

London 

Copyright, 1919 and 1920. by Agnes Chalmers 
Grand Rapids, Michigan 



V 



This booh is offered as an American's 
expression of gratitude to His Majesty, 
the King of Great Britain and Ireland, 
and to his valiant armies through whose 
unselfed service Jerusalem was restored 
December 9, 1917, to the civilized world. 



.J 58470 
*vv© \ 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 3 

AN EXPLANATION OF THE WRITING 
OF THIS PLAY 

THE POET AND HIS SONGS 

As the birds come in Spring 

We know not from where; 
As the stars come at evening 

From depths of the air; 

As the rain comes from the cloud 
And the brook from the ground 
As suddenly, low or loud, 
Out of silence a sound; 

As the grapes come to the vine 

The fruit to the tree ; 
As the wind comes to the pine 

And the tide to the sea ; 

As comes the white sails of ships 

O'er the ocean's verge ; 
As comes the smile to the lips, 

The foam to the surge; 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

So come to the Poet his songs, 

All hitherward blown 
From the misty realm that belongs 

To the vast unknown. 



For voices pursue him by day 

And haunt him by night, 
And he listens and needs must obey, 

When the Angel says : "Write !" 

— Longfellow. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 



INTRODUCTION 



This play is designed to give to the world 
a simple lesson in honest building. No more 
appropriate words of introduction could be 
offered than Montaigne has given in describ- 
ing the value of the honest motive which 
should accompany all constructive work. 
" ? Tis an exact life," writes Montaigne, "that 
maintains itself in due order in private. 
Every one may juggle his part, and represent 
an honest man upon the stage; but within, 
and in his own bosom, where all may do as 
they list, where all is concealed, to be reg- 
ular — there's the point. The next degree is 
to be so in his house, and in his ordinary 
actions, for which we are accountable to 
none, and where there is no study nor arti- 
fice. And therefore Bias, setting forth the 
excellent state of a private family, says: 
'of which the master is the same within, by 
his own virtue and temper, that he is abroad, 
for fear of the laws and report of men/ And 
it was a worthy saying of Julius Drusus, 
to the masons who offered him for three 



6 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

thousand crowns to put his house in such a 
posture that his neighbors should no longer 
have the same inspection into it as before: 
'I will give you/ said he, 'six thousand to 
make it so that everybody may see into every 
room/ " 

If this play furnishes an opportunity to 
look more closely into our dwellings, and if, 
even in a degree, it enables "everybody" to 
"see into every room," "The King's Cup- 
bearer" shall thus have aided — somewhat — 
in the ultimate liberation of the human race. 

Agnes Chalmers 
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 
Thanksgiving, 1916. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 



THE CAST 



Canticle I 

(In the order of their appearance) 
Hanani, brother of Nehemiah 
First Jew 
Second Jew 
Third Jew 

Nehemiah, the King's cupbearer 
Artaxerxes, King of Babylon 
(Military Aid) 
Hearinc — Wakefulness 
Sight — Intuition 
Taste — Discernment 
Touch — Faith 
Smell — Understanding 

Canticle II 
(Previous Characters) 

Canticle III 

Eliashib, the High Priest 
Several Priests 
Men op Jericho 



8 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

THE CAST (continued) 
Zaccur 

Sons of Hassenaah 
Meremoth, Meshullam, and Zadok 
Several Tekoites 
Jehoiada and Meshullam 
Melatiah and Jadon 
Uzziel and Hananiah 
Rephaiah, Jedaiah and Hattush 
Hashub 
Shallum 

Daughters of Shallum 
Hanun 
Malchiah 

Rehum, Hashabiah, Bavai and Ezer 
Baruch 
Meremoth 

Benjamin and Hashub 
Binnui and Palal 
The Nethinims and Tekoites 
Priests 

Zadok and Shemaiah 
Hananiah, Hanun and Meshullam 
Malchiah (the goldsmith's son) 
Goldsmiths and Merchants 
Eldest Daughter of Shallum 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 9 

THE CAST (continued) 

Canticle IV 

Sanballat 

First Messenger 

Sensuality or Personal Attraction 

Geshem 

Second Messenger 

Shame or Condemnation 

Creeds of Men 

Sleep 

Canticle V 
(Previous Characters) 

Canticle VI 
Groups of Jews 
Shemaiah 
Wife of Shemaiah 
Hashub 
Binnui 
Previous Characters 

Canticle VII 
(Sanballat's Messengers) 
Pride of Achievement 
Prejudice 
Human Goodness and his and her dual self, 

Self-Pity 
Shiftlessness 



10 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

THE CAST (continued) 

Human Will and his two children, Greed 
and Dishonesty 

Personality 

Human Ease 

Jealousy 

Idolatry 

Self-Righteousness 

Hurry 

Persecution 

Enemy 

Love of Money and his dual self, Limita- 
tion 

Canticle VIII 

Human Birth 

The Twelve Tribes of Israel, or Silent 

Approbation 
Maturity 
Discouragement 
Death 
Desire-to-be-Alone, or Human Goodness, 

whose better self is Understanding 

Canticle IX 
Imps 

Ezra, the Scribe 
Tobiah 
Previous Characters 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 11 

THE CAST (continued) 
Canticle X 
(Previous Characters) 
New Cupbearer 

Canticles XI and XII 
(Previous Characters) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 13 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 



Historical Sketch 

The word, Nehemiah, is derived from the 
Hebrew, nek-hem-yaw, meaning "comforted 
of God." The word, Jerusalem, is from the 
Hebrew, yer-oo-shaw-lame, meaning founded 
peacefully, or, habitation of peace. "To be 
safe in mind, body and estate," one authority 
adds in defining Jerusalem. 

Nehemiah, the Jewish patriot, was Cup- 
bearer in the royal palace of Shushan during 
the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus. Dur- 
ing Nehemiah's term of service in the Per- 
sian Court, word came of the unfortunate 
condition of the children of Israel, the rem- 
nant, or returned colony, who dwelt unpro- 
tected in the unfortified city of Jerusalem. 
In this connection, it is of interest to recall 
that in the year 588 B. C, Nebuzar-adan, a 
lieutenant under Nebuchadnezzer, razed to 
the ground the city of Jerusalem, its Tempie 
and protecting walls. Moses had earlier pre- 
dicted that, if in the land of their captivity 



14 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

the children of Israel repented of their evil, 
the Holy City would again be restored to 
them and that they would then be able to re- 
joice in peace and safety within the pro- 
tection of its rebuilt fortifications. 

Nehemiah's sincere concern for the wel- 
fare of the captive Jews within the devas- 
tated "City of David" led him earnestly to 
request the King to give him a commission 
to go to Jerusalem and repair the demolished 
walls of the city. Having obtained this royal 
commission, the King's Cupbearer left the 
Persian Court, accompanied by a military es- 
cort, and reached Jerusalem B. C. 444, re- 
maining there until B. C. 432. 

During the first fifty-two days of the 
Prince's sojourn in Jerusalem, he rebuilt the 
city's wall, and although he was beset on 
all sides with discouragements and doubts, 
he faithfully continued his work until the 
fortifications were finished. During the proc- 
ess of the work on the walls, Nehemiah was 
persecuted unceasingly by the jealous gov- 
ernors of Samaria and the Plain region, San- 
ballat and Geshem and their accomplice, To- 
biah. In order to defeat the purpose of his 
scheming enemies, Nehemiah set a watch 
"against them day and night." He supplied 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 15 

his workers with both tools and weapons so 
that they might work with one hand and 
with the other fight against the foe. 

This earnest Prince not only bore the 
mockery and abuse of those outside of the 
city but he likewise endured the condemna- 
tion of his own workmen who rebelled 
against the heavy tithes and cruel oppression 
of their rulers and nobles. 

After the completion of the wall, the peo- 
ple joyously realized that they truly under- 
stood for the first time the Law, when they 
heard the Bible read by Ezra, the Scribe. 

Although a solemn covenant had been 
made to "walk in God's law" by observing 
brotherly love, supporting the Temple, and 
avoiding inter-marriages with the heathen, 
after Nehemiah was called back to Babylon, 
all of these sacred vows were broken. In 
this connection it is interesting to note that 
historians give two views of this absence of 
Nehemiah from Jerusalem. Some writers are 
of the opinion that Nehemiah was called back 
to Babylon for punishment because of the ac- 
cusatory letters Sanballat and Geshem sent 
to Artaxerxes regarding the Cupbearer's de- 
sire, or ambition, rather, to become King of 
Jerusalem. Other writers are of the opinion 



16 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

that Nehemiah returned to the Persian Court 
in fulfillment of the promise he gave before 
leaving Jerusalem. The view is here taken 
that Nehemiah was punished as a convict 
slave, doomed to hard labor in the quarries 
of Persia during his nine years' absence from 
Jerusalem. 

After this sojourn Nehemiah again re- 
turned to Jerusalem. He witnessed the ejec- 
tion of Eliashib and Tobiah from the Temple 
because of their attempt personally to own 
the Church which is destined to serve im- 
personally all mankind. This royal Cup- 
bearer beheld the separation of the mixed 
tribes from Israel, arranged for the reward 
of the singers and the Levites who had 
actually performed the work of reconstruc- 
tion, and made provision for the perpetual 
care and support of the Temple. The view 
is here taken that these reforms which fol- 
lowed Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem were 
actually accomplished through the Cup- 
bearer's surrender of all human power, 
which left him in possession of divine 
authority. 

In all these ways, Nehemiah, "The King's 
Cupbearer," acted much as all others act to- 
day whose desire is to build rather than to 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 17 

destroy. He knew that the practical and the 
ideal, the male and the female, must be for- 
ever united in the individual consciousness. 

Possibly history will not bear out the li- 
cense taken when the daughters of Shallum 
are made to appear as actual workers on 
the walls of Jerusalem. The appearance of 
the daughters of Shallum as builders; and 
the five women, representing Wakefulness, 
Intuition, Faith, Discernment, and Under- 
standing, coincides with the tender womanly 
traits "The King's Cupbearer" manifested in 
the loving, motherly care he showed at 
all times for the welfare of the children of 
Israel. In his consistent desire to rebuild the 
waste walls of Jerusalem, and thus safeguard 
the remnant of the house of Israel, Nehemiah 
was, in reality, re-establishing for all time 
that quality of thought which Bernard Shaw 
designates as "an eternal womanly principle 
in the universe." Nehemiah's fearless de- 
nunciation of crafty malice in his fight 
against the governors of the Plain shows 
forth the courageous masculine traits of this 
Prince's noble character. Nehemiah fully 
realized that strength and courage, patience 
and intuition must be truly manifested by 
one who would become an honest, construe- 



18 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

tive builder, and therefore stood earnestly by 
his work day by day. 

In quoting the Psalms in this play, it is 
with the thought that possibly some of these 
constructive songs of gratitude came into 
being when the waste walls of Jerusalem 
were rebuilt as a protection to the city and 
its temple. 

No more fitting tribute was ever given than 
that which history has recorded of Nehe- 
miah, "The King's Cupbearer:" "His char- 
acter seems almost without a blemish." 

History confirms the fact that Great Brit- 
ain, like Nehemiah, has throughout the cen- 
turies consistently continued to build the 
world's wall, rarely, if ever, leaving the scene 
of action. It is undeniable that the United 
States of America, likened here to womanly 
intuition or spiritual understanding, finally 
came to the world's rescue in the latter days 
of the first phase of Armageddon. Thus 

another act of the long conflict between the 
flesh and the spirit was ended. 

In the same manner, America's hand must 
again steady the world's wall until the four 
sides of the Holy City are rightly recon- 
structed. These four equal sides are here 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 19 

represented as Capital, Labor, Nation and 
Church. 

In the final phase of Armageddon, all of 
those who see face to face shall have the 
joy of beholding the final defeat of human 
goodness through the mighty power of spir- 
itual understanding. To this end, all men, 
nations and creeds, in this reconstruction 
period, are building together for good. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 21 



PROLOGUE 



Description: Two Prologue speakers, Sight 
and Intuition, appear be- 
fore a curtain which por- 
trays two parallel paths 
winding up a mountain side. 
One path is the way of hu- 
man experience, the other 
typifies the way of spiritual 
discernment. The one path 
is beset with obstacles; the 
other winds upward with- 
out obstruction. Both paths 
converge in the distance. 
(The Prologue is spoken by 
Sight, a man; and by Intu- 
ition, a woman.) 
Sight 

My friends, you know him well, this man of 
good 

Who speaks to you to-night. Across the way, 

Perchance he dwells from you. Earth's 
brotherhood 

Comprises such as he. Yea, day by day, 



22 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

You meet him in the street, — the man who 

goes 
About his daily toil with hope and cheer, 
A loving worker, he who always knows 
The joy of building rightly in his task, — 
This is "The King's Cupbearer." None may 

ask 
To know a nobler one than he who serves 
Mankind with just the duty of each hour. 
This is "The King's Cupbearer" who deserves 
The merit Love bestows. Truth's strength 

and pow'r 
Be with each royal Cupbearer we meet, 
And pass to-day, upon life's surging street. 

Intuition 
Friends : 

We are the King's Cupbearers, 
As we go on our way, 
Serving the wine of heav'n, 
Loving all faithfully. 
The cup Love gives is patience; 
The wine, Truth understood. 
The King is our God in heav'n, 
Guarding earth's brotherhood. 
Jerusalem is knowing 
Man is nor bond, nor free ; 
Blest City, ever sowing 
Seeds of true liberty. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 23 

The wall we build is justice, 

Protecting men from wrong. 

The temple, Church about us; 

Love's anthem, — work and song. 

The new birth comes through proving 

Man is complete to-day. 

Watching and ever loving 

Lead to eternal day. 

Sanballat is sin's malice, 

The curse of peace and good ; 

Geshem, hate's poison chalice, 

Drugging all those who stood 

Bravely through storm and sunlight, 

Ever through peace and war, 

Staunchly at dawn or midnight, 

Casting sin's curse afar; 

But ever God in heav'n 

Destroys the hand of fear; 

Who understands is giv'n 

Strength to endure and bear. 

Who leans on understanding 

Builds ever strong and high. 

With the World's Wall constructed, 

Salvation draweth nigh. 

Dear Friends, may we be watchful 

To aid all on our way, — 

To build and to destroy not, 

Blest King, we watch and pray. 



24 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

("Sight and Intuition turn and walk some 
distance together. They finally separate, 
each to take a different path. Sight takes 
the rough path of human experience; In- 
tuition, the clear way of spiritual dis- 
cernment In the dim distance, it may be 
seen that these two paths converge.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 25 



CANTICLE I 



Repentance, Doubt and Resolve 

Description : The scene is a richly appointed 
room in Shushan, the pal- 
ace, at the Persian Court of 
King Artaxerxes, in the 
year UU5 B. C. The hang- 
ings of the room are of 
white, green, and blue, fas- 
tened with cords of fine 
linen and purple to silver 
rings and pillars of marble. 
The several beds in the spa- 
cious room are draped in 
gold and silver. The floor 
is a pavement of red, blue 
white and black marble. 

Discovered : When the curtain divides, sev- 
eral Jews are discovered 
standing in the center of 
the room talking to Ha- 
nani. They are engaged in 
earnest discussion. 



26 the king's cupbearer 

Hanani 

(sadly) 
There is no hope ; the city desolate 
Now stands. 

First Jew 
Doth not one heed its direful fate? 
Hanani 
(wearily) 
No one repairs the city's shattered walls! 

Second Jew 
Is no one mindful lest its fortress falls? 

Hanani 
The world has not awakened yet to see 
There is nor Greek, nor Gentile, bond nor 
free. 

Third Jew 

Jerusalem is lost, yea, cast aside! 

Hanani 

(despairingly) 

The city which hath been adorned, the bride 

Of Life eternal ! 

(As these words are spoken, a stream of 
moonlight floods the room. Nehemiah 
is heard praying outside. The words are 
distinctly heard, although the speaker is 
not seen.) 

Nehemiah's Words 
"I beseech thee, Lord God of heaven, — 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 27 

That keepeth covenant and mercy 
For them that love him and observe his com- 
mandments : 
Let thine ear now be attentive, 
And thine eyes open, 
That thou mayest hear the prayer of thy 

servant, 
Which I pray before thee now, day and night, 
For the children of Israel thy servants, 
And confess the sins of the children of Israel 
Which we have sinned against thee : 
(The curtains at rear part, and Nehemiah 
slowly enters. He is a very tall, dark man, 
wearing heavy black beard, without mus- 
tache. He is dressed in the robes of a 
royal cupbearer, olive green satin gar- 
ment with conventional design of em- 
broidery, and a wide shoulder sash of 
royal purple.) 

both I 
And my father's house have sinned." 

(Nehemiah I: 5, 6.) 
Nehemiah 
(earnestly addressing Hanani,) 
The Jews which have escaped, tell me I pray, 
If they, left of captivity, are safe? 



28 the king's cupbearer 

Hanani 
(to Nehemiah^ 

They are in dire affliction, day by day, — 

In great reproach; the walls are broken 
down; 

Jerusalem in hazard stands ; its gates 

Are burning. 

Nehemiah 
{sitting down and weeping — to himself) 

Before the God of heaven, grant my renown 

May come, alone, through building up these 
walls. 

Yea, every other task of mine must wait. 

("King Artaxerxes and the Queen enter, fol- 
lovoed by a train of courtiers.) 

(The King and Queen ascend a miniature 

throne) 

The King 

Were it not pity, Cupbearer, that thou 

Shouldst seek to go about this thankless 
task? 

The captives in Jerusalem art now 

Endangered. 

If any grievous plague hath heav'n, 

Through centuries it hath been freely giv'n 

To waste Jerusalem. 

(Nehemiah bows his head. He makes no an- 
swer. The King summons messengers 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 29 

and gives orders for a seven-day feast. 
Enter several messengers who offer to all 
drink in various shaped vessels of gold. 
Royal wine is served in abundance. Ne- 
hemiah approaches the King's throne 
and silently kneels. He then arises and 
leaves the stage, L. During the festivities 
of wine drinking, in which all join save the 
King and Queen, Nehemiah again en- 
ters, bearing two jewelled cups of wine, 
brimming full. He presents these to the 
King and Queen.) 

(to Nehemiah> 
Thou art not sick 

Answer me, is this but sorrow of thine heart? 
Nehemiah 
(kneeling and kisHng King's hand) 
0, King, live thou forever: 
(sadly) 
If I had 
The gift of tongues, I might then tell to thee 
The plight of those who in captivity 
Now wait within Jerusalem. The place 
Of all my fathers' sepulchres lies waste; 
The very gates are now consumed with fire. 

The King 

(according Nehemiah permission to arise, 

Nehemiah stands before the King,) 



30 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

For what dost thou then make request? 

Nehemiah 
(with hand uplifted, addressing the King,) 

Higher 
Than heav'n, let this, my prayer, ascend. 
I pray thee, King, 

Send me, that I may wisely build and mend 
Those broken walls. 

(The King turns and addresses the Queen, 
who is seated beside him on the raised 
dias.) 

The King 

(questioningly) 

How long his absence, Queen? When shall 

we sing 
Of his return ? 

(Both King and Queen drain to the dregs 
the cups Nehemiah has brought. They 
return the empty cups to the Cupbearer, 
who places them on table, R. Nehemiah 
again stands before the King and 
Queen.,) 

The Queen 
(to the King; 
We shall not miss him 
(kindly glancing toward Nehemiah,) 
if he can rebuild 
Those walls that lie so desolate. Stilled 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 31 

Shall our sorrow be till he return. 
Nehemiah 

(Stepping forward and kissing the hands of 
the King and Queen, as he kneels before 
them) 

I set a time to come ; it shall be when 

The waste walls of my thought are built. 
Yea, then 

I shall return. Forget not that I go 

Forth but to struggle with one deadly foe — 

Destructive self — the self that rends, indeed, 

All else save its own whims. 

King, I may need letters to governors. 

(King gives Nehemiah permission to arise. 
As Nehemiah rises, the King hastily 
whispers directions to scribes regarding 
letters. The scribes withdraw to one side 
and take from drawer, documents which 
they present to the King.) 
The King 

{receiving the papers and handing them to 

the Queen) 

(to Nehemiah; 

My son, go forth, 

And prove to all the world the mighty worth 

Of building rightly. 



32 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

The Queen (to King; 
King, bless these messages, and grant the 

way 
Of peace. 

(hands letters to the King,) 
The King 
(Beckoning to five men in military garb, who 
are waiting quietly at one side. The men 
approach the King, give military salute, 
and kneel.) 

(to NehemiahJ 
I summon officers to go with thee, — 
This military aid. 

(pointing to men and giving them the signal 
to arise. They all arise.) 
Nehemiah (doubtfully) 

God grant they be 
Faithful to service, willing to obey, 
And ever watchful lest I fall, the prey 
Of foe. 

Sight 
(Stepping forward and warmly shaking 
hands with Nehemiah, peering into his 
face and looking everywhere about.) 
Ah, look ! My name is Sight. I'll try 
To see for thee. 

Hearing 
(listening — to Nehemiah,) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 33 

Hark! I am Hearing. I 
Will hear for thee. 

Touch 

(touching everything and bowing 

— to Nehemiah,) 

My name is Touch. I do 
Discern all things. 

Taste 
{tasting wine, proudly — to Nehemiah) 
My name is Taste. I, too, 
Teach thee discernment and delight, — a taste 
Of better things. 

Smell 
{sniffing the air — to Nehemiah) 
My name is Smell. 

{with importance) 

I waste 
All time on niceties. 

Nehemiah 
{sizing up the men, disapprovingly) 
Are these, my King, 
The best thou hast? 

The King 
{to Nehemiah, eager to explain) 
They are trained. 

Nehemiah 
{disapprovingly — to King) 
I would fling 



34 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Their training all aside if I might be 
Protected by my better self. 
The King 
{regarding the five men sadly 
— to Nehemiah) 

I know 
{shaking his head) 
Just what thou fear'st, and, yet, no earthly 

foe 
Is conquered without them. 
Nehemiah 
{as if he would reject the aid of the men) 
And, yet, to me 

These soldiers stand for trained hypocrisy. 
(Nehemiah draws back from the five men 
who crowd about him. They endeavor to 
stand as his body guard.) 
No conquest save the conquest over each 
And every one of them ! 

{sadly regarding the five men) 

No vict'ry won 
Save by self's transformation! 
{to the five men) 

Friends, to reach 
My better self, I must discard, indeed, 
All thou dost cherish. 

The King 
(in a quandary — to himself) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 35 

I am perplexed ! 

The Queen 
(eagerly, to King) 

King, grant that I may say 
One word of peace. 

(indicating the five men) 

These men in higher form 
Have oft appeared to keep our Court from 
harm. 

(to Nehemiah, with deep conviction) 
They can protect thee; if thou wouldst but 

see 
Their true selves, they will help to set thee 
free. 

Nehemiah 
(to King and Queen) 
If they 

(indicating five men) 
have higher form, blest Queen and King, 
I trust them, then, to guard from suffering 
Thy servant. 

(bowing and indicating himself) 

Sight 

(proudly, to Nehemiah) 

I have been trained everywhere 
To gain my present worth. I go, my friend, 
With thee. 



36 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

NEHEMIAH 
(again shrinking back from the five men as 

if he could not go with them — to Sight) 
Thou speakest proudly, Sir, I dare 
Not enter with thee in this task I do. 
Sight 
(eagerly to Nehemiah) 
If I should reach a greater height, renew 
My better self, wouldst thou then go with 
me? 

Nehemiah 
(to Sight) 
Assured, indeed, that I could never see 
Aught but the real through thee, I, then, 

shouldst go 
With thee, Sir Sight, to conquer alien foe. 
Sight 
(to Nehemiah) 
Then I shall stay with thee, for thou may'st 

need 
My presence as thou conquer'st form and 
creed. 

Hearing 

(stepping forward, convincingly 

— to Nehemiah) 

Have I not heard for thee in days long past? 

Nehemiah 
(peering long into Hearing's face, as if rec- 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 37 

ognizing an undesirable acquaintance) 
Yea, ofttimes heard; I've ofttimes wished 

thou had'st 
Not heard 

{covering his ears with his hands as if to 
shut out unpleasant sounds) 

The jarring noises of the fast 
Revolving centuries ! 

(as if brushing all noise aside) 

Would, I might cast 
Their shrieking woes aside! 
(weeps) 
Hearing 
(pleadingly, to Nehemiah) 

Friend, truly, I 
Will stand for perfect hearing; I will try 
To put down self. 

Nehemiah 
(testingly — to Hearing) 

Nor hear of foe nor friend 
Aught but the best? 

(Hearing nods assent) 

Then, come! 
Touch 
(stepping forward and addres- 
sing Nehemiah) 

I, too, wouldst lend 
Thee faithful service. 



38 the king's cupbearer 

Nehemiah 
(to Touch) 
Yea, I know that thou 
Hast wrought good ofttimes, yet thy judg- 
ments now 
Are biased. 

Touch 

(proudly, to Nehemiah) 

I, friend, am trained to serve. Trust me! 

Smell 

(advancing and addressing Nehemiah) 

And I will warn thee when thou need'st to be 

On guard. 

Taste 
(hastily, to Nehemiah) 
I gladly tell thee what is good. 
Nehemiah 
(looking at the five men, sadly) 
And yet, not one of you has understood! 
All 
(incredulously) 
Not one of us has understood? 

Nehemiah (to Sight; 
Not in thy present form. 'Tis very true 
Each is well trained to serve. 
(indicating all) 
Yea, there are few 
Their equals! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 39 

(again addressing Sight,) 

Still they are so incomplete 
I dare not go with them! 

{drawing back) 

I dare not meet 
(addressing all) 
— With just their aid, alone, — I dare not go — 

(addressing all) 
With them alone — to conquer self, the foe 
That doth resist the longest. 

Sight (loudly — to all) 
Men, awake 
(indicating all the men) 
Your better selves. 

The King 
{to Nehemiah) 
Our Queen says they have better selves. 
{indicating men) 
I know 
She truly speaks; thou may'st safely go 
With these five, well-trained men. 
The Queen 
{indicating men) 

They always take 
On higher forms whenever the command 
Is giv'n. 

The Five Men 
{together) 



40 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

We offer as a pledge our hand, 

(all extend hand to Nehemiah) 
In honor ; if thou need'st us, thou shalt see 
We will be present, friend, to set thee free 
From self. 

Nehemiah 
(to five men) 
Dear friends, I trust you as we go 
Forth to redeem all captives from the foe 
Of self. 

(instructing the men) 
Mark, God's own word each man must speak I 
Remember well, the fall'n and the weak 
Look up in pray'r to us. God grant we may 
Judge righteous judgment. 

(with bowed head) 

Let us watch and pray 
For wisdom. 

Smell 
(to all) 
Let us ever faithful be! 
Till Israel's remnant shall be truly free. 

Nehemiah 
Through understanding, all the sons of men, 
All nations, churches will be one again. 
When Israel's remnant is restored, the leav*n 
Of lasting peace to all the world is giv'n. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 41 

(to the five) 
Speak up, my men, and tell me, dost thou 

know 
That good must aid us daily as we go 
Forth to our tasks? 

(to King and Queen) 

I go, blest King and Queen, 
With these, 

(indicating men) 
thy messengers. Grant they redeem 
Me from dread sin and fear, until I see 
I am nor Greek, nor Gentile, bond nor free, 
Nor male, nor female, in the task I do. 

(joyously) 
We shall redeem the remnant. Captive Jew 
Shall be set free ! Now I may go, indeed, 
(gathering men closely to him) 

with these. 
Our Father knows our every need. 
The King 
(handing the letters to Nehemiah) 
Go forth, thou Cupbearer of earthly King, 
Go forth, and let the world in gladness ring 
With all thine overcomings. 

May these 
(indicating letters) 
Bring thee peace. 



42 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Nehemiah 

(with firm resolve) 

The city of my fathers' sepulchres must be 

rebuilt ! 
It ofttimes seems a struggle to begin 
To cleanse one's thought from cursed fear 

and sin. 
I long to go, and yet, 

(as if weakening in his resolve) 

I am afraid. 
(with firmness) 
Ah, no, God hath made all things that were 

made, 
And called them "good" and "very good." 

Blest King, 
I go 

(resolutely) 

to conquer sin and suffering. 
(Nehemiah steps forward and kneels a mo- 
ment before the King and Queen for a 
blessing.) 

The King and Queen 

(together to Nehemiah) 

Our blessing, Son, the Court of Persia gives 

Thee full commission. Go ! Earth's captive 

lives ! 

(King and Queen give command for 

Nehemiah to rise) 



the king's cupbearer 43 

Nehemiah 
(Rising, to All as if in prayer, with hands 
outstretched. The five men stand close 
to Nehemiah while the King and Queen 
and Court listen with bowed heads.) 
"0 Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear 
Be attentive to the pray'r of thy servant, 
And to the pray'r of thy servants, who desire 
To fear thy name : and prosper, I pray thee, 
Thy servant this day, and grant him mercy 
In the sight of this man. 

(indicating King) 
For I was the king's cupbearer." 

(Nehemiah 1:11.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 45 



CANTICLE II 



An Evening of Encouragement 

Description: The scene shows the moon, 
under a half cloud, shed- 
ding light upon the waste 
walls of Jerusalem. The 
scene is laid in a valley. 
The dragon well and the 
dung port are near. A 
brook runs close by. A most 
disconsolate aspect. The 
gates of the wall have all 
been consumed with fire. 

Discovered: Nehemiah and the five men, 
Sight, Touch, Taste, 
Smell, Hearing, are stand- 
ing together, viewing with 
cheerful countenances the 
most disconsolate of places, 
— Jerusalem's devastated 
walls. They walk together, 
as if on a tour of inspection, 
until they come to the gate 



46 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

of the fountain and the 
King's pool. A beast passes 
under this gate. 
Nehemiah 
"Ye see the distress that we are in, 
How Jerusalem lieth waste, 
And the gates thereof are burned with fire: 
Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusa- 
lem, 
That we be no more a reproach." 

(Nehemiah 2:17.) 
E'en through this dire distress, I seem to be 
Encouraged to press on and set men free. 
Sight 
(to Nehemiah) 
The hand of God hath dealt so well with thee. 
The King's words bless us. With sincerity 
We go about this task. 

Nehemiah 
(to the five men) 

Come, let us rise 
And build these walls aright. 
Touch 
(joyously, to Nehemiah) 

Let us surprise 
The rulers, priests, and nobles with a wall 
That never can be shattered, never fall. 



the king's cupbearer 47 

Taste 

(to all) 

We are despised, yea, laughed to scorn, and 

yet, 
We, too, may build what multitudes forget 
Not, nor despise. 

Smell 
Let us build high — 

High unto heav'n, that he who passeth by 
May mark the remnant now is safe, indeed, 
Within these walls. 

Hearing 
Where never form, nor human creed 
May enter. 

Nehemiah 

(approvingly to all) 

Thou hast grown wise, my friends; yea, 

thou dost speak 
Words of true wisdom. All the lonely, weak 
And weary ones of earth shall be redeemed. 
Thou art much nobler than thou e'er hast 

seemed. 
I say again, thou hast grown wise ; and high 
Above thy former selves. 
Sight 
(meekly, to Nehemiah) 

And, if we try 
We may grow higher in this thing we do. 



48 the king's cupbearer 

Hearing 

We may put off the old man for the new. 

Nehemiah 

(to all) 

My men, I see a change in thee. 

The Five Men 

(together) 

Tistrue! 
Nehemiah 
(to all) 
My friends, I doubted thee, but now I see 
Thou, trained in things of God, may'st set 

men free 
From self. 

The Five Men 
(together) 
'Tis true, we, trained in things of good, 
Free thee and all earth's weary brotherhood. 

Nehemiah 
Then I must trust thy better selves, indeed, 
In all this reconstruction. Friends, we need 
To stand together. 

The Five Men 
(together) 
Friend, nor lust, nor greed 
Shall turn us back. 

Nehemiah 
(to all) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 49 

These broken walls shall be 

Redeemed — this is God's work for you and 

me; 
And, as we work, God's truth shall bring to 

light 
Our better selves. 

The Five Men 
(together) 
God give us grace and might! 
Nehemiah 
(with hands outstretched — to the five) 
Remember well, ye men, that which I say, 
The God in heav'n always points the way 
Of him who builds for others. 
The Five Men 
(together) 

He doeth well! 
Nehemiah 
(to all) 
And yet he may not ever boast nor tell 
Of what he builds. Ye have no portion, right, 
Within Jerusalem. No fearful right 
Of ownership may enter in thy work. 
Come, let us build. 

The Five Men 

(together) 
Let not one of us shirk 
Our duty. 



50 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

NEHEMIAH 
(to all) 
I, Cupbearer, lead thee forth. 
The Five Men 
(earnestly) 
O, may our work alone speak of our worth. 
(At this moment, the appearance of the men 
changes. The dark garments they are 
wearing fall to the ground, showing 
bright, soft robes of ethereal nature. The 
men take on the forms of women as they 
stand in the moonlight, which has now 
become bright.) 

NEHEMIAH 

(beholding all with radiant countenance) 
Ah, I have thought that thou wert men. 1 

see 
The woman in thee now! 

(peering into their faces) 
(to Hearing) 
And thou, dear Wakefulness, forever true 
To highest good art thou. I scarcely knew 
That thou wert male and female. 

(to Sight) 
Thou, Sight, art Intuition in disguise, — 
No wonder that thou hast discerning eyes. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 51 

(to Touch) 
Thou, Touch, art Faith. Tis ever very 

well* 
Thou know'st events before the world can 

tell 
They have begun ; yea, friend, through hope 

and trust. 
Blest Faith, thy ways are ever true and just! 

(to Taste) 
Discernment, thou art joyous woman, too, 
And male, as well; thou dost, indeed, renew 
The youth of those who follow thee aright. 

(to Smell) 
Dear Understanding, leading on to day. 

(as if in prophecy) 
In years to come, thou wilt point out the way 
Of Life eternal for all creeds and men. 
Thou shalt arise a woman-country, free 
From self. A war-torn world shall see 
When Understanding comes, all nations then 
Shall dwell in peace, yea, men shall love, 

indeed. 
When Understanding comes, Love is earth's 
creed. 

(to all) 
(looking closely) 

Ah, I see 
The woman in thee now. 



52 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Friends, this is well, for thou wilt need to be 
Both male and female in this task ye do, — 
Complete and satisfied. Each captive Jew, 
When wakened, shall behold nor bond nor 

free 
Is he, indeed. The courage of the male 
Is his, and woman's gentle tenderness; 
Complete and satisfied, he cannot fail. 
Yea, Israel's captives, still, shall richly bless 
All men. They shall behold God's husbandry ; 
Wedded to Truth, all men shall then be free. 
Ofttimes, my friends, a task at first seems 

light, 
Though it loom large, indeed, to finite sight. 
Be not fair weather friends. Stay thou and 

fight 
When fall discouragement and darkest 

night,— 
Through fiercest battle stay and win, — for 

right. 
"The God of heav'n, he will prosper us." 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 53 



CANTICLE III 



Honest Daily Needs 
The Transfiguration of Labor 

Description: A morning scene, showing a 
vast army of men ready for 
work on the waste walls of 
Jerusalem. 

Discovered : Eager groups of men carrying 

tools, the daughters of Shallum and 

Understanding. 

Eliashib (the High Priest) 
(beckoning to several priests) 
Come, brethren, let us build this sheep gate 
well. 

Several Priests 

(together) 

And sanctify it to the Lord of Hosts. 

Men of Jericho 

(building and speaking together) 

What we have builded, future ages tell. 

Zaccur 
Not one stroke of our hammers can be lost. 



54 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Sons of Hassenaah 

{working at fish gate) 

We lay the beams thereof ; the doors are set ; 

The locks thereof, the bars thereof are fast. 

Meremoth, Meshullam, and Zadok 

{together) 

We work that no one ever can forget. 

Several Tekoites 
And we that peace and truth forever last. 
Jehoiada and Meshullam 
{working together at the old gate) 
We lay each beam thereof, and set each door. 
Melatiah and Jadon 
{together) 
We work nor ask for any blessing more. 
Uzziel and Hananiah 
{working on the broad wall) 
The broad wall must be perfect, too, that we 
May see them safe in their captivity. 
Rephaiah, Jedaiah and Hattush 
{working) 
May see them safe, and who are they? 
Malchijah and Hashub 
{repairing the tower of the furnaces) 
Each vagrant thought that hath become the 

prey 
Of self. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 55 

SHALLUM 

(the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, 

working with his daughters) 

I came here with my daughters, they who 

rule 
And work with me. Each one with her own 

tool 
Is building. 

(the women drive nails) 
Daughters of Shallum 
(together) 
We came that all may see 
The utter helplessness, futility, 
Of those who come disguised as helpers, when 
The news of reconstruction reaches men, 
Hanun 
(repairing the valley gate) 
Sanballat and Geshem, the ones you fear, 
Daughters of Shallum? 

Daughters of Shallum 
(together) 
Not if we keep on building, tier on tier. 

Eldest Daughter of Shallum 
The ones we fear, — and yet why should we 

fear? 
Since God is God, alone, and He is All — 
Is just the cursed falsehoods that would tear 
One's true self from its union now with good. 



56 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Understanding 
(She speaks but does not work with her 
hands) 
Ah, yes! One must abide 
Forever at one's work in peace to know 
God's law aright. To conquer self, the foe 
Of progress, one must build high unto heav'n 
E'en for another's good; such is the leav'n 
Of understanding, wisdom, power, might, — 
All those who sit in darkness see this light. 
Malchiah 
(building the dung gate) 
There is so much to cleanse from every 

thought, 
I build the dung gate. All that I have 

wrought 
Endures forever. 

Shallum 
(repairing the gate to the fountain) 
I set the doors of this, the fountain gate. 
God's messengers may enter, but the fate 
Of those who come to rob is fixed, indeed. 
No one may enter here with form or creed. 

Nehemiah 
(repairing the place over against the 

sepulchre of David) 
My friends, Sanballat hears we build this 
wall; 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 57 

The news has spread to him. "Ah, it shall 

fall!"— 
This is his dire foreboding. We abide 
Forever at this task until we know 
Those in captivity are saved from foe. 
Rehum, Hashabiah, Bavai, and Ezer 
(repairing near the turning of the wall) 
Never was work more welcome hour by- 
hour, — 

Baruch 
Welcome, because it proves there is one 
pow'r. 

Meremoth 

(working at door — to the priests, 

the men of the Plain) 

Courage, my friends, bear up, each day must 

bring 
Its own reward. 

Benjamin and Hashub 
(working together) 
Friends, let our hammers ring 

(all hammering together) 
In glad applause. 

(joyous, ringing music) 

Binnui and Palal 
(hammering together) 
No enemy can ever turn us back, 



58 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

The Nethinims and Tekoites 
(working together) 
Those who would build for good can never 
lack. 

The Priests 
(repairing near the horse gate) 
In learning meekness here, we may well find 
No man upon this earth shall e'er unbind 
Our work. 

Zadok and Shemaiah 

(working together) 

If we toil on with love, we may renew 

The waste walls with the fortified. 

Hananiah, Hanun and Meshullam 

(together) 

We knew 
Those shattered walls would one day be re- 
deemed ! 
Malchiah (the goldsmith's son) 
This broken shaft, it must be strongly 
beamed. 

Goldsmiths and Merchants 
(working together) 
Courage, my friends. Together we build well. 
(Their tools fall. Ringing noises. The eld- 
est daughter of Shallum slips behind 
each worker and, picking up fallen tools, 
restores them to owners.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 59 

Eldest Daughter of Shallum 
(handing tools to men) 
Here is thine hammer, friend ; 
(to another) 

thy trowel fell. 
Nehemiah 
(to all) 
Beware, my friends, one cometh in disguise, 
A messenger of foes. 

(to another) 

Keep well thine eyes 
Upon thy work. 

(to all) 
Work as one man, work on, 
Until each task of earth is fitly done. 

(to another, encouragingly) 
Work, till each task of thine is fitly done. 

Understanding 
(Pausing behind a worker and regarding his 

work and tools approvingly.) 
Be not afraid of thy salvation, friend ; 
Thy tools are clean. The nail thy hands doth 

send 
Strikes always to the mark. 
(to another) 
This task of thine 
Hath turned earth's water into royal wine 
Of heav'n. 



60 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(to another ivorker) 
When the marriage of mankind 
Is solemnized in work, then shalt thou find 
Love's home, and Church, Messiah's heav'n, 
Mind. 

(Passing to another worker.) 
I, Understanding, urge thee on, these walls of 

thought 
Shall be constructed. All that thou hast 

wrought 
Must ever stand. 

(To another group.) 
Work as one man, work on, 
Until mankind is saved, earth's battle won. 

(To all, as if in prayer.) 
This shall be Labor's triumph through the 

years, — 

To have contentment for its wage. No fears 

Can e'er assail the man who loves his task. 

He shall have all, yea, more than he can ask. 

Nehemiah 

(to all) 

He shall have kindly service for each need — 

This shall be Labor's reason, Labor's creed. 

"Be not ye afraid of them: remember the 

Lord, * * * * 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 61 

And fight for your brethren, your sons, and 

your daughters, 
Your wives, and your houses." 

(Nehemiah 4:14.) 
For I am Nehemiah, the King's Cupbearer. 
And God, alone, is King of all the Earth. 



THE KIN 3 CUPBEARER 63 



CANTICLE IV 



Jealousy and Dark Forebodings 

Description: A village of the Plain, repre- 
senting a low order of 
thought. Everything in 
chaos. Rubbish of expen- 
sive materials heaped 
about, showing carelessness 
and sloth. The heat of the 
day. 

Discovered: Sanballat, governor of the 
Plain, is entering. He is an 
idol worshiper and carries 
with him a ghastly idol 
which he places with fool- 
ish awe on a high pedestal. 
He is a short, very heavy 
man, gaudily overdressed in 
ornate colored satin robes 
and much jewelry. 
Sanballat 

(with sinister smile to the messenger who 
enters with him at L.) 



64 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

So they rebuild those walls — poor, foolish 

Jews! 
(Laughs a loud, derisive laugh, which is 
really no laugh at all but merely an ani- 
mal ejaculation.) 
Bring Geshem here, at once ! 
(With imperial wave of large, over -decorated 
hand to Messenger) 
Messenger 
(to Sanballat) 
Aye, Sir, I 
Do thy bidding. 

(exit Messenger) 
(Enter Sensuality at L. A woman of de- 
ceitful expression. One who has reached 
maturity, but still looks artificially young. 
She is dressed in flaming red velvet and 
wears many jewels.) 

Sanballat 
(walking across to the woman and chucking 

her rudely under the chin) 
Sweet lass, thy name? 

Sensuality 
(simpering foolishly into Sanballat's face) 
My name, Sir, is Sensuality. 
I keep mankind in grim captivity. 
As Personal Attraction, too, I come 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 65 

And rob mankind of work, and church and 
home. 

Sanballat 

(eagerly grasping her hands until the 
woman fairly winces under the crushing 
handclasp) 

Hold, woman, I have work for thee to do ; 

Thou shalt destroy each foolish, working 
Jew. 

Strange how I always find the help I need 

To aid me in the sowing of sin's seed ! 

(Sanballat and the woman, Sensuality, 
dance briskly about and, at the same time, 
laugh loudly and ivickedly. They plot to- 
gether. Enter several messengers. Sen- 
suality breaks away from Sanballat 
and, as if giving him an exhibition of 
her frivolity, she slips quietly from one 
messenger to another, leering wickedly 
into each face, while she hums a foolish, 
sentimental, love song. As she is singing, 
Geshem, enters, L. He is a tall, heavy-set 
man, wearing the costly trappings of a 
ruler. Sanballat and Geshem regard 
the woman approvingly as she sings. 
There are no words to the woman's song. 
Clashing, unrefined medley.) 



66 the king's cupbearer 

Geshem 
(after Sensuality has ceased dancing, turns 

angrily to Sanballat and almost howls) 
Why have ye sent for me, Sanballat, pray? 
I am a Governor! 

(With vast importance, while he struts 
about nervously.) 

This busy day. 

I, too, have much to see to, much to do. 

Sanballat 

(in low tone) 

Didst thou not hear how every captive Jew 

Strives to rebuild the walls that lie so 

waste — 
The waste walls of Jerusalem? Make haste 
And give a plan to outwit all this task. 
Geshem 
(pondering) 
A plan? Tis simple! Let me think, I ask, 
One moment. 

(Thinks and rubs his forehead.) 
Sensuality 
(interrupting) 
Let me go to them, I pray. 
Each man shall bow to me. Yea, I will stay 
The hands of those who work, through flat- 
tery. 
(Sanballat and Geshem laugh loudly.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 67 

SANBALLAT 
(delightedly) 
Poor foolish wench, thy wit is not half bad. 
Our messengers will go with thee, 

(Summons messengers, who flock 
about Sensuality.) 

And had 

We other emissaries — if we know 

Geshem 
(Interrupting) 

Each Jew 
Must be restrained from work. 
Sensuality 
(thinking) 
If we know of any others, they should go. 

(to Sanballat and Geshem) 
Dear Sirs, I pray thee, let me bring 
My sisters and my brother. Each has way 
Of evil fully learned. 

Sanballat 
(interested) 
Thy sisters? Give each name, 
And I will judge. 
And name thy brother, too. 
Sensuality 
(proudly) 
The younger one is Shame. 
The elder one is quiet, she is Sleep. 



68 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

My brother, Creeds of Men, 
There are but four of us, yet we can keep 
Each Jew from toiling further on his task. 
Sanballat 
(to Messenger) 
Bring hither her 

(indicating Sensuality) 

two sisters. 
And her brother, too, 

Grim Creeds of Men. They have grave work 
to do. 

Sensuality 
(to Messenger) 

Say, I ask 
Them to come quickly. We have work this 

hour 
That will require united strength and power. 
(Messenger departs quickly at L.) 

Geshem 
(turning to servant at his side) 
Go thou and tell those Jews who toil, that we 
Desire to see them in this village here; 
Tell them that we can help to set them free ; 
That we would talk with them. Tell them to 

fear 
Not to come hither. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 69 

SANBALLAT 
(to servant at his side) 

Tell the Jews the Plain 
Is waiting for them ; that the ripened grain 
And fruit of all our kingdom wait. Ah me, 
Why should they for those in captivity 
Still toil? 

Both Servants 
(together) 
We go, Sirs. 

Geshem 
(to servants) 
Wait until the four, 

These sisters and their brother go before 
To mark the way of condemnation, death. 
Yea, let them go and rob men of their breath. 

(Enter Shame, Sleep, and their brother, 
Creeds of Men. They quickly embrace 
Sensuality. Shame is dressed in deep 
black and walks with bowed head as if 
fearing to look up. Sleep keeps her eyes 
closed. She is dressed in a shadowy, 
vapory-like gown. Creeds of Men 
piously mutters a meaningless prayer, 
while shaking his head in disapproval of 
of everything.) 



70 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(to Shame) 
What canst thou do, thou sad-eyed woman, 

here? 

Shame 
I follow Sensuality. Men fear 
My very name. I am Disease, the curse 
Of sin unfettered. Couldst thou summon 

worse 
Than I? 

My name is Condemnation, too. I stand 
A cursed lie with men in every land ! 
My brother, Creeds of Men, doth rarely speak 
Words one can understand, but all the weak, 
And sinning ones of earth he doth condemn. 
He disapproves of all the sons of men. 
'Tis strange but Creeds of Men will shake his 

head, 
In silent disapproval of the dead. 
The ones who live on earth he knows must go 
For punishment through lust and want and 

woe. 
I, Condemnation, know a day will come 
When Creeds of Men will leave me, — then my 

home 
Is hell! 

Geshem 
(to Sleep) 
And thou, frail shadow, canst thou, too, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 71 

Do ought to hinder any working Jew? 
Sleep 
(raising languid eyes) 
My name is Sleep, and after men have well 
Been bound in chains by her, 

(pointing to Sensuality) 

and her, 

(indicating Shame) 

I tell 
My story to them, promising that I 
Will bring forgetf ulness. I close each eye 
Of him who listens to me, and I claim 
To be a blessing, but my very shame 
Is covered. I am Inactivity. 
My other names are Death, Inanity. 
Sanballat 
(laughing loudly) 
Ha, Ha, I see, He, He, Ha, Ha, I see! 

(Waving them on.) 
Go forth, ye messengers and ladies fair, 
And speak to those poor working Jews o'er 

there. 
Bring them to us, or cause them to desist 
From working. 

(Patting Shame on shoulder) 
'Tis true, my dear, they cannot thee resist! 

Shame 
I am the condemnation of all men. 



72 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

While condemnation lasts, I know well then 
I am secure, but when it is no more, — 
Ah, how I shudder ! Then the open door 
Of death and hell awaits us. 

(indicating Sensuality and Sleep) 

(Regarding Creeds of Men with fear.) 
All men will lose their cruelty and go 
Into the Temple of the God of good. 
Then Creeds of Men shall no more dare to 

name 
These hopeless words, sin, condemnation, 

shame ! 
But Creeds of Men is cruel, ah, we should 
Make every use of him! 

Geshem 

Let Creeds of Men now speak ! 

Creeds of Men 

(muttering) 

Fear, sin, hell, heav'n, punishment, want and 

woe, 

Separation, old age, care, loss 

Sanballat (interrupting) 
Go forth, go forth, go, go! 

(To Creeds of Men; 
Ye spoke well, Creeds of Men, except of 

heav'n. 
See that no hope of heav'n here is giv'n 
To those poor, working Jews. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 73 

Ye muttered heav'n and, yet, ye cannot say 
That word as if ye once had learned to pray. 
Bind them, hold them, and drive them quickly 

here, 
Those Jews, through flattery, or shame, or 

fear. 
Go forth, go forth, go, go, 
And see that Shame or Condemnation here 
Shall watch o'er all these men until they fear 
The eyes of everyone on earth below. 
Trust Condemnation's second death and woe ! 
Go forth, go forth, go, go ! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 75 



CANTICLE V 



A Struggle With Self 

Description : Same as in Canticle HI except 
the walls are nearly re- 
paired. 
Discovered: Nehemiah and all the work- 
ers at their tasks on the 
walls, 
(enter First Messenger) 
First Messenger 
My Lord, Sanballat, Governor of Plain, 
Hath sent me to thee. He would once again 
Hold counsel with Cupbearer of the King. 
(Endeavoring to lead Nehemiah away.) 
(Nehemiah draws back as if refusing to go.) 
Sanballat, sir, 

(insistently) 

has counselled me to bring 
Thee to him that thou may'st together talk 
These matters over. 

(Nehemiah draws back.) 

No, thou need'st not walk. 
I have Sanballat's chariot. 



76 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(All workers stop working on the walls and 
listen to the conversation between Nehe- 
miah and the messenger.) 
Nehemiah 
But I am doing here a great work. Answer 

why 
This work should cease, the whilst I go to 

talk 
With them? 

(Turning back to his work.) 
Tell them I shall ne'er walk 
Nor ride to them. This good work must not 

cease ! 
(A second messenger hurriedly enters, L.) 

Second Messenger 
(as if pointing to the Plain — to Nehemiah) 
I bear a message, too ; I bring thee peace, 
From Geshem, Governor, my Lord ; 
And he hath sent me forth to bring this word 
To thee. Come down, he begs of thee to-day, 
And talk this good work over, and the way 
Of progress. 

Nehemiah 
(firmly) 
Sir, no work was ever done 
Through useless talk. 

'Tis better, one by one, 
That we should learn to work, and not to say 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 77 

How we have worked. I cannot come today, 

Nor any other time. 

{Turns back to his work; all begin ham- 
mering together) 

(Enter a wondrously beautiful woman. She 
is Personal Attraction. Nehemiah is 
tvorking earnestly when she enters, but 
he immediately becomes excited and 
confused. It is evident that he is 
doing poor work. All the time he looks 
admiringly at the woman. He drops his 
tools; the gate he is hammering into place 
crashes to the ground and, in its fall, 
tears a part of the wall away. Neither 
Nehemiah nor the woman speak. As if 
delighting in her conquest and Nehemi- 
ah's failure to work intelligently, the 
woman smiles joyously and exits. With 
a disappointed expression, and looking 
ever toivard the door whence Per- 
sonal Attraction had departed, Nehe- 
miah wearily takes up his work. Enter 
the five senses — Sight, Touch, Taste, 
Smell, Hearing. The five men stand 
near Nehemiah as if to encourage 
him to continue his work. Again the 
woman, Personal Attraction, appears. 
She is more beautiful than ever in a robe 



78 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

of shimmering material. Nehemiah 
gasps delightedly when he sees the 
woman. He tries to return to his work, 
but it is plain that his work disgusts him, 
and that he has eyes only for the beau- 
tiful creature who stands near him. The 
woman, seeing Nehemiah's displeasure 
with his work, laughs joyously and de- 
parts. The five corporeal senses look 
heavenward as if in prayer. Again the 
woman enters. She is even more beautiful 
than before, having thrown a rope of won- 
drous jewels about her neck and a fleecy, 
silken shawl upon her head. When 
Nehemiah sees her, he ceases work 
entirely and looks unceasingly at the 
woman. He sits down on a pile of build- 
ing material. The five senses bring him, 
first a hammer, then a trowel, then a joist. 
They try to encourage him to go on with 
his work but he refuses. He does nothing 
except to stare admiringly at Personal 
Attraction. Finally, Nehemiah gives 
one quick glance heavenward as if in 
prayer. ,At once the spell of mesmeric 
attraction is broken. In a moment's time, 
the gleaming robes fall at the woman's 
feet, showing an ugly creature dressed in 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 79 

sack-cloth. The five senses change 
again to beautiful women. Nehe- 
miah rises quickly from his reclining po- 
sition and with eager joy begins his work. 
He intelligently repairs the large gap in 
the wall caused by Personal Attrac- 
tion's first appearance. Personal At- 
traction, now in sack-cloth, ugly and old, 
tries to keep Nehemiah from working. 
She goes to him, attempts to seize his 
hands and hold him with her gaze, but 
her efforts are all in vain. Joyously 
Nehemiah continues to work.) 
Nehemiah 
(to the woman) 
God be praised ! I know thy heinous name, — 
Tis personal attraction*, lust and shame! 
Vain sensuality gives naught, indeed, 
Except her costly garb of self. Sin's creed 
Is always getting. It has naught to give— 
Who follows sensuality shall live 
No more. 

Whene'er thou comest first, clad in the flesh 
Of costly, vain attraction, ye enmesh 
Thy victims; well thou keepest them from 
gain 



* When Nehemiah perceives that evil is impersonal, the 
word typifying evil is not capitalized. 



80 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Of true salvation through thy crafty, vain 

attentions. 
The second time thou com'st, men loathe their 

work; 
Their days become a useless drag ; they shirk 

all honest duty. 
The third time thou dost come, men cease 

their toil, — 
Thou bind'st upon them fetters, coil on coil. 
The world of useful joy would pass away, 
If thou, poor foolish creature, hadst thy say ; 
But as men lift their eyes to heav'n and pray, 
The joy of work comes forth into the light, — 
And thou art then a monster in their sight! 
Go from me, woman, never, never more 
Shalt thou appear to darken my own door 
Of thought. My daily work is all I need ; 
My work is my attraction and my meed 
Of joy and peace and happiness and rest! 

(as he pushes the woman away) 
Woman, for me, my work is ever best. 
(Discouraged at Nehemiah's words, Per- 
sonal Attraction then goes to the other 
men. One by one they drop their tools 
and half return her caresses. Nehemiah 
alone repulses Personal Attraction 
each time she returns to him. He con- 
tinues his work. Not a word is spoken. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 81 

Every time one of the workers drops his 
tools because of the woman's caresses, 
the daughters of Shallum appear and re- 
store them to the idle hands.) 
Personal Attraction 
(in final attempt to gain Nehemiah's 
attention) 
Come, 

(whispering) 

Come with me, 
I will give thee ease 
And joy and gladness. 
Wouldst thou not for these 
Lay down this heavy anvil? 

(pointing to tool) 

Nehemiah 

(firmly) 

No, for I, Cupbearer of the King, must ever 

try 
To do my best. 

Personal Attraction 
(Gently stroking Nehemiah's hands.) 
Thou art so brave, my dear. 
It is thy bravery I love. 

(Still caressing his hands.) 
These wondrous hands ! How they have 

wrought ! 
Ah, do not fear 



82 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

My fond caresses. 

(Nehemiah brushes her aside and quickly 
begins work on the walls. Personal At- 
traction, seeing that it is useless to try to 
win Nehemiah, softly steals again to the 
other men, who are watching her with 
jealous glances. Nehemiah works on. 
Personal Attraction flits from one to 
another and casts her spell over each of 
them in turn. They rapturously return 
her caresses. Shame and Creeds of Men 
enter.) 

Shame 
(to one of the workers who has been holding 

Personal Attraction in his arms) 
My name is Sister Shame. Each working Jew 
Shall be inactive. Yea, let me renew 
My boast. Not one shall work, for I 
Shall make each one afraid. Each man shall 

try 
To shake me off ! 

I, too, am Condemnation, which doth hide 
Earth's sensuality. Tis true, this wide 
World dreams not yet that I am all 
That hath the pow'r to bind men with the 

thrall 
Of death. 
(She hovers like a cloud over the tired work- 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 83 

ers; with one hand she summons Sleep.) 
Come, Creeds of Men ; come, Sister Sleep, 
My work is finished! 

(The hands of the men drop listlessly.) 

Now I pray thee keep 
These hands from toiling, and these eyes 

from light. 
My work is finished ! 

(The men drop their heads in shame, while 

Creeds of Men shakes his head.) 

Creeds of Men 

Lead to blackest night 
These earnest Jews. 

Hell, hate, want, care, separation, loss, grief ! 

(Sleep approaches the men. They reach out 

their arms to her as if begging^ her to 

come to them. They yawn stupidly and 

sigh.) 

Sleep 
(surprised) 
I — I have naught to do! 
Shame, Sensuality, hath bound each Jew! 
While Creeds of Men condemn their soul to 

hell, 

Each one has worked so valiantly and well! 

(They all nod their heads in sleep except the 

daughters of Shallum and Nehemiah, 

who work diligently on. The eldest daugh- 



84 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

ter of Shallum approaches Nehemiah. 
He is so busily engaged in work that he 
has not noticed the sleeping toilers.) 

(to Nehemiah) 
The Eldest Daughter of Shallum 
(to Nehemiah) 
Cupbearer, awake those stupid Jews who 
sleep ! 

Nehemiah 
(regarding the sleepers) 
Our God shall fight for us. 
Yea, He shall keep 
Our hands from idleness. 

(to Daughters of Shallum) 
The trumpet sound! 

(Loud blowing of trumpet.) 

They shall awake ! 
(Men begin to awaken.) 
Their better selves when found 
Shall keep them. Daughters, tell them they 

shall be 

Both male and female, joyous, sinless, free. 

(Daughters of Shallum go quickly and 

awaken the men more fully, merely by 

placing the workers' own discarded 

weapons and tools in their listless hands.) 

(All the men arise, look about in startled 

manner and continue the work quietly. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 85 

With a spear in one hand and a weapon 
in the other, each daughter of Shallum 
stands back of every group of men as a 
faithful guard. Enter Understanding.) 
Understanding 

Tell them, 

{to Daughters of Shallum) 
I pray thee, each with servant may 

At night lodge in Jerusalem. The way 

Grows brighter. Toilers, we are not afraid. 

God hath made "good" all things that He 
hath made. 

A day will come when men shall no more fear 

Vain sensuality. Yea, we shall hear 

No cursing and no condemnation then. 

The Father knows this hour ; it shall be when 

Earth's final condemnation for sin's lie 

Brings no more sensual curse. 

Stilled is the cry of shame. 

Remorse and fear shall not be heard. 

We shall have no more sleep or death. God's 
word 

Will raise the dead, and silence human strife. 

When condemnation ceases, all is Life. 
Nehemiah 

(Nehemiah rises suddenly, as if with in- 
spiration and looks searchingly at first 
one messenger and then another. The 



86 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

outer garment each messenger is wear- 
ing drops away. Exit Creeds of Men.) 
This messenger 

{indicating Sanballat's messenger) 

that we have dreaded, see! 
Is Intuition in disguise; was she 
Not Sight? 

Intuition 

The ills we deem dark woes may be, 

When overcome, a guide to lead to light. 

Nehemiah 

{shaking second messenger until outer 

covering falls) 

And this one, well thou know'st, was one time 

Taste. 
Thou art not Shame, at all, thou comest 

here 
To teach mankind to have no shame nor fear. 

Discernment 
And now I am Discernment. 
Nehemiah 

Thou, indeed, 
Art messenger who teaches us to waste 
No time in self-abasement. 

Discernment 
{as if holding aloft a cup) 

Taste of life's cup, 
Of grief or joy, let not this chalice pass ! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 87 

NEHEMIAH 

(Looking Sensuality squarely in the eye; 
her outer garment falls, revealing a beau- 
tiful woman.) 

Ah, thou art Faith ! 'Tis true thou troubl'st 
me 

So long to-day as Touch ! This is the curse 

Of all earth's curses, mankind fears as worse 

Than Death. The touch of Touch brings 
bitter woe 

Because it claims to hold, caress, and go 

From life to death. 

Dear Faith, thine hands so long 

Have groped for satisfaction! Now the 
wrong 

Of sensuality can no more bind. 

Blest Faith, thy ways are ever true and kind. 
Faith 
Yea, I am Faith ! 

I best express myself by giving much 

To all mankind. 

Nehemiah 
(pondering) 
So thou wert one time Touch! 

Can this be why, in future years, there is 

Destined to come a King to earth ? — and this 

Shall be his message : Purity and Peace ! 



88 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(as if prophesying) 
The dead are raised with grateful words like 

these : 
"Father, I thank Thee!" Men shall even 

know 
The garment's hem he wears shall heal their 

woe. 
If they but reach out for the Truth, they 

shall 
Be freed forever from the galling thrall 
Of sensuality, which comes to bind 
Mankind with touch of finite love. 
{to all) 

We find 
Our freedom, friends, forever as we give 
Our all of gratitude that men may live. 
This, then, is Faith, — forever giving all 
Of selfless love to free men from the thrall 
Of darkness, sickness, sensuality, 
(eagerly to Faith) .. 
Blest Faith, there never has been love like 

thine, 
That hath supplied earth's marriage feast 
with wine! 

Understanding 
And now I come to bless 
Earth with true understanding. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 89 

NEHEMIAH 

Yea, 'tis true, 

When Understanding comes, men will con- 
fess 

That human goodness cannot heal or save. 
(to Understanding, tenderly) 

Thou shall redeem mankind. The open grave 

Of self is powerless to ever lure. 

When Understanding comes, life will endure 

Forevermore. 

(For a long time, Nehemiah regards Sleep. 
She does not change. Sleep constantly 
eludes the Cupbearer's steadfast, search- 
ing look. While Nehemiah is actually 
trying to "see through" Sleep, and Sleep 
is trying to evade the Prophet, Hearing, 
now Wakefulness, dressed in loose, 
flowing white garments, slips quietly into 
the room, and takes her place with the 
other four guards at Nehemiah's side. 
Sleep, beholding Wakefulness' appear- 
ance, shudders and makes quick exit. Ne- 
hemiah, turning, beholds Wakefulness, 
and embraces her lovingly.) 

Brave Wakefulness, my friend ! 

Thou art the friend of friends which God 
doth send! 



90 the king's cupbearer 

Wakefulness 

(reassuringly, to Nehemiah) 

Blest Cupbearer, I come to-day to hear 

For thee. There is nor pain, nor any fear! 

Nehemiah 

(gratefully, regarding the five women) 

Ah, this one here 

(holding Wakefulness' hand) 

is friend, indeed, — 'tis she, 
True Wakefulness, comes to us now that we 
May keep awake and set our brethren free. 
(At this moment, heavy-eyed Sleep appears 
again, L. She yawns stupidly; seems 
about to enter but is apparently afraid 
of Wakefulness and Understanding.) 
Wakefulness 
(pointing derisively at Sleep, who cowers to 
the ground and almost creeps out of sight) 
Sleep hath no better self. She hath a need 
To hide herself! Death is her cruel creed. 
My friend, 

(to Nehemiah) 
there yet are days of grief and woe 
When death, or sleep, will try to make thee 

go 
As fettered slave to hell — but thou shalt see 
The world's great need of immortality, 
And, seeing this, thou shalt, indeed, be free ! 



the king's cupbearer 91 

Understanding 
Yea, days will follow, too, when Love's high 

wall 
Which doth protect a world shall all but fall ; 
When from false human goodness, thou hast 

turned, 
The world and thou shalt have all thou hast 

yearned 
For in thy endless, selfless search for good. 

(with hands uplifted) 
Then I shall come, and all is understood. 
Nehemiah 
(to all) 
Half of thee hold the .spears 

(to the women) 
Until each star in highest heav'n appears, 
While half shall work. 

(To the men. They all return joyously 
to their work on the wall.) 

The way 
Grows ever brighter to us. Father, pray 
That none of us may falter, till we see 
Man is both male and female, deathless, free. 
Understanding 
(As if in prophecy.) 
I see on earth, in long, long years to come, 
Half of thee shalt, indeed, protect the home ; 



92 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

While half shall win earth's peace — this is 

God's will! 
The home thou shalt protect is consciousness ; 
The wakefulness all men express shall bless 
This earth-home with true, patient tender- 
ness. 
The intuition of our God shall be 
Made manifest ! Blest gratitude shall free 
Earth's fettered ones. Yea, Understanding 

is 
Prepared to lend to-day eternal bliss. 
There shall be no more war, nor hate, nor 

strife 
Within earth's home in heav'n, — this is 

life! 
From human goodness each must turn away 
And find eternal life, effulgent day 
For all mankind. Blest Understanding's 

might 
Shall make all nations one. 
Nehemiah 
(reverently, in benediction) 

"Let there be light!" 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 93 



CANTICLE VI 



A Struggle With Poverty and Greed 
The Transfiguration of Capital 

Description : The scene is again as in Can- 
ticles HI and V, the partly 
constructed walls of Jeru- 
salem. About six weeks 
later in time than Canticle 
V. 

Discovered: Groups of discontented Jews 
standing about engaged in 
angry conversation. Groups 
of anxious women and fret- 
ful children. The women 
wearily shift baskets of 
corn and wine from their 
arms to their heads. They 
sigh disconsolately.) 
Shemaiah 
(discontentedly) 

We, our sons and daughters, many are! 

That we may live, we take up corn and wine. 

Yea, we have borrowed money from afar 



94 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

That this work might proceed. 
Indeed, our fine 
Of tax is great ! 

Wife of Shemaiah 

(sullenly) 

Why should this work go on, when, day by 

day, 
Our debt grows larger? 

Meshullam 
(kicking at wall) 

We have naught to pay ! 

(Groups of angry men walk about and 

kick at walls as if they would destroy it.) 

We have encumbered vineyards, — 

all our lands! 

Meremoth 
(fiercely) 
And this is all we have! 

(Pointing derisively at wall.) 

My very hands 
Are wearied. 

Bavai 
(peevishly) 
I mortgaged all my lands — I 
Have naught more. 

Wife of Bavai 
(weeping) 
I know it! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 95 

{rocking back and forth) 

I know it! Ah, 
I weep and sigh 
But no one cares. 

BlNNUI 
Yet our flesh is exactly as the flesh 
Of our own brethren, our children, too, 
And their children. Would we then enmesh, 
Our sons and daughters, into bondage? 
{Angrily approaches Nehemiah, who 
alone continues to build.) 

Jew, 
Speak up ! Some are already bought 
With no power to redeem 
{savagely) 

and thou hast wrought 
This mischief ! 

{At one side, an auctioneer is asking for bids 
on the children. The riders make va- 
rious offers.) 

Nehemiah 

{rising slowly from his work and towering 

above all) 

Not as they seem 
Are countless ills to-day. 
{Turns to messenger and summons nobles 
and rulers who are engaged in bidding on 
children. They crowd about Nehemiah.) 



96 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Men, I pray, 
Listen, and find at once a better way 
To meet each need. Thou dost exact in whole 
Usury of thy brethren, and thy toll 
Is death. Our brethren, the Jews, redeemed 

shall be, 
Not in some far-off time, but now and here. 
They, sold unto the heathen, shall be free 
From cursed debt, disease, and human fear. 
(Shaking his clenched fists into the 
faces of the rulers.) 
And wouldst thou even sell thy brethren 
For stupid ease ? Quick, answer me, my men ! 
(There is a long silence. The rulers and 
nobles stand with bowed heads, as if 
ashamed.) 
Shall they be sold for us ; canst thou not say 
A word — not even one? There is none, nay 
Not one to e'er condone this usury. 

(All men stand with heads lowered.) 
(Nehemiah walks back to the wall as if his 
words to the rulers were finished; he 
picks up an anvil and gives a few ringing 
strokes, and then suddenly faces about 
and paces his way back to the silent men.) 
"It is not good that ye do : ought ye not 
To walk in the fear of our God because of 
The reproach of the heathen our enemies ? 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 97 

I likewise, and my brethren, and my serv- 
ants, 
Might exact of them money and corn : 
I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 
Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, 
Their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, 
And their houses, also the hundredth part 
Of the money, and of the corn, the wine, 
And of the oil, that ye exact of them" 

(Nehemiah 5:9, 10, 11.) 
(A long silence. The women are standing 
beside the rulers with baskets of corn and 
wine half extended to them. The rulers 
reach out their hands to receive the bas- 
kets, but as they listen to Nehemiah's 
words, their empty hands drop back to 
their sides. Understanding enters 
quietly and stands close to Nehemiah.) 
Understanding 
(to the Rulers) 
Restore to all earth's laborers the gain 
Of their true service. Give them all! No 

vain 
Percentage, laid aside, can give thee wealth. 
But giving all, thou shalt find peace and 

health. 
In years to come, thou shalt have all to give, 
Blest Capital, — then all mankind shall live, 



98 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

And lave and work and rest forever! Aye, 
When men give all to work, eternal day 
Shall dawn. 

Shallum 
"We will restore them, and will require 

nothing of them ; 
So will we do as thou sayest." 

(Nehemiah 5:12.) 
Nehemiah 
(to messenger) 
Go, call the priests, an oath we'll take of this 
That they should do according to their 
promise. 

(Shakes lap as if emptying it of 

something.) 

"So God shake out every man from his house, 

And from his labour, that performeth not 

this promise, 
Even thus be he shaken out, and emptied." 

(Nehemiah 5:13.) 
Understanding 
In years to come, each nation shall rejoice 
To be in loving debt to all. Truth's voice 
Shall summon to the warfare of the earth 
The sons of men to give their all. The worth 
Of wealth shall then be known. Wealth 
never ends 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 99 

When men and nations dwell as neighbors, 

friends. 
In lending all, one still has all to give; 
Giving is wealth whereby all men shall live. 
All 
(together) 
Amen ! Praise the Lord ! God be praised ! 
Nehemiah 
(with hand uplifted) 
At my table now I entertain 
One hundred-fifty Jews : 
The fruit and grain 

Of governors we eat not. Think of me, 
0, Lord, Thou God of good, Grant that I be 
A faithful servant till this wall shall stand 
A worthy tribute to our Father's hand. 
'Think upon me, my God, for good, 
According to all that I have done 
For this people" — (Nehemiah 5:19.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 101 



CANTICLE VII 



A Desperate Struggle With Self 

Description: Showing walls completed ex- 
cept doors. 
Discovered: Nehemiah stands alone look- 
ing at the opening where 
doors should be. 
(Human Goodness, a large, florid man, a 
messenger from Geshem, enters, unob- 
served, and stands close to Nehemiah's 
side while he works. Self-Pity, a deceit- 
ful looking man, stealthily follows. He 
whispers whiningly into Nehemiah's ear 
as he works while Nehemiah attempts to 
brush him aside.) 

Human Goodness 
My name is Human Goodness. Ah, my 

friend, 
I never hesitate gladly to lend 
My aid. Geshem commissions me to say 
He would reward thee for thy work to-day — 
Yea, he will lavish all thou e'er could'st ask 



102 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

For having carried through this wondrous 

task. 
Come down to Ono, village of the Plain, 
And he will give thee lands of ripened grain, 
I gladly lend my name to every one 
Because my title is so justly won. 
Cupbearer, if it be to thee the same 
We will be going now. 

Self-Pity 

(to Nehemiah) 

I, I, I, I, I, I do suffer so. 

I, I, I, I, want, fear, death, pain, hell, woe! 

(Taking Nehemiah by the arm.) 

Nehemiah 

(Striking Self-Pity as if brushing aside a 

troublesome viper) 
Self-Pity and thyself art ever one; 
Poor Human Goodness, what hast thou e'er 

done 
To bless mankind? 

(to Human Goodness) 
In many guises, thou shalt come to me, 
Proud Human Goodness. Till the world is 

free, 
I shall encounter thee as women, men, 
As creeds and nations. Why go with thee 

when 
I know thy home is hell. Why go with thee? 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 103 

To-day, thou comest, selfish, greedy men. 
Thou next will come as women, and 'tis then 
I must be on my guard. Why go with thee? 

Human Goodness 
To get thy full reward. Friend, thou shalt be 
A ruler. 

Nehemiah 
(firmly) 
I have reward. None can tell 
Save God alone, my recompense, how well 
I am repaid. 

Human Goodness 
But it is fully right 

That governors should tell thee of thy might 
And wisdom. 

Nehemiah 

(hands raised to heaven) 

"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son 

of man, in whom there is no help. 
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his 

earth ; 
In that very day his thoughts perish. 
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for 

his help, 
Whose hope is in the Lord his God : 
Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and 
all that therein is: which keepeth truth 
forever/' (Ps. 146:3-6.) 



104 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(About the middle of the Psalm, Geshem's 
dual messenger, Human Goodness and 
Self-Pity, slowly depart. Nehemiah, 
alone, again turns to view he wall.) 

Shiftlessness 
(sauntering in, walks up to the mortar and 

looks at it sneeringly — to Nehemiah) 
What is this? Ah, mortar? Then why mind 
Mixing this so? 
(Nehemiah is carefully placing in the lime.) 

Cast it in ! 
(Knocks Nehemiah's elbow so that the lime 

slips carelessly in. Laughs.) 
Cast it in! 

This will last after thou art dead and gone. 
Cast it in ! 

(jostling shovel) 

Cast it in, why stand alone 
For such exactness? 

(Nehemiah, saying nothing, goes to the wall 
and carefully measures the opening of a 
gate. Shiftlessness follows him and 
jeers at him.) 

Never mind measuring; 
Cast it in. 

(Nehemiah picks up the heavy gate which 
belongs in the opening.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 105 

Who cares how it fits? 
Ah, bring 
Thy talents to the things that count, — this 

gate 
Is merely iron ! It can have no fate — 
'Tis lifeless metal! Though it fit not, why 
Shouldst thou then care? Why shouldst thou 

even try? 
(Shiftlessness saunters about; carelessly 
knocks down one gate after another and 
kicks each about. Crashing noises.) 
Nehemiah 
Ah, shiftlessness, we two have met before. 
Thou may'st leave! 

(points to exit) 

I would not listen more 
To all thy foolish prattle. 

(pushing him away) 

I am here 
To do my best. Thou canst not interfere. 
Of all the messengers that Geshem sent 
Thou art the one whose crookedness hath bent 
Men from the line of rectitude. Thy ways 
Are not God's ways. For this, let Him be 
praised ! 

(exit Shiftlessness) 
(Nehemiah turns again to the wall. An of- 
ficious woman enters and approaches him. 



106 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

She wears a very anxious expression. She 
is Idolatry.) 

Idolatry 
(looking longingly at Nehemiah. He turns 
away from her with expression of annoy- 
ance and hatred. Nehemiah drops a tool. 
Idolatry picks it up and at the same time 
breaks a very valuable tool which is close 
at hand. Nehemiah angrily pushes the 
woman aside. Idolatry quickly measures 
a gate for him with no degree of exact- 
ness.) 
I idolize thee, friend. This work ye do 
I would do for thee. 

Nehemiah 
{much annoyed — to Idolatry) 
No! (pushing her roughly aside) . Vain, vain 
Idolatry. Speak not to me again. 
(Nehemiah continues working, but at every 
turn Idolatry interrupts his efforts with 
over-solicitous attention. Firmly, to Ne- 
hemiah.) 
I shall not give thee up! Thy angry pride 

At my attentions 

Nehemiah 
(interrupting) 
Go from me! (angrily). This wide 
World surely furnisheth enough of space 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 107 

So that I never need to see thy face ! 
I loathe thee! I despise thee, fiendish curse! 
Of all sin's leeches, none was ever worse! 
Idolatry 
(pleased at curses, smiling) 
I idolize thee ! Nothing thou canst say 
Shall ever turn my love for thee away. 
Nehemiah 
(scornfully) 
Thy love for me! Thou hind'r'st all I do! 
Thy love for me ! No word of this is true ! 
Thy useless, harmful hindrances I hate! 

Idolatry 
Ah, I am used to curses. Yea, I wait 

For thy attentions 

Nehemiah 
(interrupting) 
My attentions! No! 
Thou shalt have none from me — thou woman, 

go! 
(Idolatry brings a heavy mantle and wraps 
it closely about Nehemiah so that he can- 
not lift his hands to his work. With great 
effort, he casts the cloak aside.) 
Idolatry 
(trying again to wrap the mantle about Ne- 
hemiah, who continues to cast it aside) 
Ah, it is cold, my friend, and thou shalt be 



108 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Forever blessed and comforted by me. 
I am Idolatry, close Family Tie, 
I shall not leave thee, dear, till thou shalt die. 
I am the finite love of those who fear 
For thee. I shall be ever, ever near 
Thee all thy life. 

(She throivs her arms closely about Nehe- 
miah's neck, clinging tenaciously to him) 
Nehemiah 
(with agonized expression, lifts his eyes to 
heaven in prayer. He makes no move 
to shake the woman from him, although 
he shows in every expression his longing 
to be free from her.) 

There is one God, above, 
Father, I thank Thee that Thy law is love. 
I thank Thee, Father! 

Idolatry 
(loosens her arms from Nehemiah's neck. 
With surprise, to Nehemiah) 

Have I heard aright? 
Thou used to curse me, now within my sight 
Thou giv'st thanks ! 

Nehemiah 

(unconscious of Idolatry) 

Father of love, I thank Thee ! 

Idolatry 

(as if determined to win Nehemiah's at- 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 109 

tentions. Peering into his face) 
Dear, dost thou see me, too ? 
Give me thy curses, love, pray do, pray do ! 
Nehemiah 
(refusing to see Idolatry) 
Who is so great a God as the One good? 
With Him, alone, all things are understood! 
Idolatry 
(desperately) 
Hast thou no curse to give me, dear ? My life 
Is nourished with vain curses, idle strife. 

(pleadingly) 
Give me abuse! Hatred my portion is 
Since time began, and, ah, I feed on this ! 
Nehemiah 
(looking heavenward) 
Who is so great a God as God in heav'n ? 
Idolatry 
(beseechingly) 
I need thy curses, dear, let them be giv'n 
That I may live! Idolatry, indeed, 
Feasts on harsh words. Scorn is her hourly 
need. 

Nehemiah 
(patiently, looking heavenward) 
Who is so great a God as God above, 
E'en though I dwell in hell, God still is Love. 



110 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Idolatry 

(clinging closely to Nehemiah) 

Ah, I am sure thou need'st me. Dear, I know 

That I must follow thee where thou wouldsi 

go! 

Nehemiah 

I thank Thee, I can see but God's own ways. 

For all Life gives me, may I offer praise ! 

Idolatry 

(weeping) 

Thou praiseth me? (sadly) Alas! Praise 

me? Me? 
I shall remain with thee throughout thy 

life — 
As closest f am'ly tie, as mother, wife, 
As thine own sister, I shall love thee so 
That I shall keep thee e'er from pain and 
woe! 

Nehemiah 

(firmly) 

That which God gives me brings nor curse, 

nor shame. 

For all God sends me, may I praise His name. 

(Enter Understanding, followed by Human 

Goodness and Creeds of Men.) 

Understanding 

(to Nehemiah) 

Thou f earest this is family ! Alas, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 111 

Thy fears are vain since heav'n and earth 

shall pass 
But Love's true family shall stand for aye, 
O'er this frail ownership hath no more sway. 
(When Idolatry hears these words, she 

ivails and clings tenaciously to Nehe- 

MIAH.) 

Idolatry 
(to Nehemiah) 
I beg of thee to make thy home with me ; 
I shall be with thee ever, thee, thee, / thee! 
Creeds of Men 
(shaking his head) 
Alas, this is his family. The curse 
Of ownership is true. There is none worse. 
Alas, this is his family ! 

Human Goodness 
(drawing herself up proudly) 
I never take one human step. I find 
I am too good to mingle with mankind. 
I have no family! 

Understanding 
(to Nehemiah) 
We yet shall prove to all mankind the worth 
Of fam'ly. All the nations of the earth, 
With Capital and Labor, churches, men, 
Shall dwell together. Ah, the world shall 
then 



112 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Be wedded. Then this very earth shall rise 
To dwell within Jerusalem. Truth's wise 
And healing word foretells that Love and 

good 
Unite all men — then all is understood! 
This is salvation, Christian unity, 
Love's home, and Church, yea, this is family ! 
Idolatry 
(weeping bitterly, leaving) 
Base, cruel world, that will not grant me all 
The curses and abuse for which I call. 
I crave for these ! When kindness comes I go 
Back to idolatry, and hell, and woe. 
(Exeunt Idolatry, Human Goodness and 
Creeds of Men.) 
Nehemiah 
(with bowed head, as if in deep thought) 
A teacher came to earth, and said that we, 
Earth's toilers, have one God and thus are 

free; 
Thou shalt have no more gods than One, 
saith he. 
(Looking up as if wondering where 
Idolatry had gone.) 
Idolatry is gone! I murmured much 
At her attentions ! Ah, I loathed her touch ! 
(Idolatry hearing these last words, again 
steps forward to enter. Beholding UN- 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 113 

derstanding, she shudders and leaves. 
Idolatry quickly drops back from en- 
trance.) 

Understanding 
Now I can see that kindness changed to wine, 
Earth's water. God be praised! let not 

mine 
Iniquities be called to mind! In deed 
And word, let me be thankful that Love's 

creed 
Is never murmuring, nor vain abuse. 
0, may I have one God, and rightly choose 
Whom I shall serve. One God is All-in-all, 
And God is Love! Father, on Thee I call 
To save me from each hind'ring thought of 
fear. 

There shall be no more pain ; no, nor one tear 
Of woe, as we remember God's great love 
Meets every need in earth and heav'n above. 

(Enter Human Will. At first sight, he ap- 
pears to be a very small man, but he in- 
creases constantly in size as he speaks. 
Human Will is accompanied by his son, 
Dishonesty, and his daughter, Greed. 
Dishonesty is very cowardly in appear- 
ance. Greed is large and florid.) 



114 the king's cupbearer 

Human Will 

(breathlessly to Nehemiah) 

This will not do ! Come, come with me, my 

friend, 
Thou must come now. I say so. Wherefore 

bend 
Thy back in labor when I summon thee? 

(Nehemiah is fitting a gate in place.) 
Not there ! Not there ! 

(Indicating disapproval of placing gate 
in that opening.) 
Come with me now. Why be 
So earnest? 

(Human Will takes Nehemiah by the 
shoulder and pushes him about.) 

Go there ! 
(pushing him to another place) 

Go on (pushing him) Go! 
I said there! (angrily) Not there! There! 

There! No, 
Not there! 
(Pushing Nehemiah about, Human Will 

appears to be utterly exhausted.) 
Not there! (wearily) I said so! (Very 

wearily ) I — said — so. 
(Dishonesty is attempting to displace good 
building material with defective timbers; 
good stones with mere lumps of sand 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 115 

which fairly crumble away. Greed has- 
tens about and picks up bolts, nails, tools 
and many other valuables and hides them 
in her flowing sleeves.) 
Nehemiah 
Mark thy dishonest children, mark the greed 

(pointing to Greed) 
And avarice of her, and mark the need 
Thy son, Dishonesty, hath now to go 
With wiser vision or — 

(Dishonesty stumbles and falls ) 
Human Will 
(turning to his children) 
Ah, I did not know 

She (pointing to Greed) was a thief, a rob- 
ber; ah, ah, me! 
And he (pointing to Dishonesty) deceitful, 
crafty, tell me, can it be? 
(Dishonesty picks himself up. Human 
Will weeps.) 
Nehemiah 
Thy name is human will. Should I not know 
Thy falsity? Hast thou not led me on 
O'er crag and fen of self, in days long gone? 
I know thy name. 

(Human Will still weeps bitterly. His two 
children steal quietly from the stage.) 
I know the weariness 



116 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Of thy poor counsels ; yea, thy faithlessness ! 
Of all his messengers, Sanballat's curse 
Hath never made of villany, a worse 
Than thou. I know thee, human will; I 

know 

I know thy wretched leadings — Go, Go, Go! 

(Human Will continues to iveep.) 

Human Will 

(to Nehemiah) 

I shall abide with thee, here, here, now, now, 

Until thou goest with me, thou, thou, thou, 

thou! 

(with feigned gentleness) 
I do not want my way ; come, thou, with me. 

Nehemiah 
False meekness, human will, thou dost as- 
sume, 
Since in thy scheming heart thou hast but 

room 
For self. Father, Thy will be done! 
(At these words, Human Will falls at 
Nehemiah's feet.) 

With Thee, 
I go where Truth directs. Yea, I am free 
To go where Love commands! Yea, there 

dwell I, 
As God's own image. 



the king's cupbearer 117 

Human Will 
(looking up from the ground) 

Come with me. Oh, why 
Not go? 

Nehemiah 

(resolutely) 

I go where God directs the way. 

No human will can have the power to say 

Where I should go, or where my work shall 

be; 
The God in heav'n, alone, instructeth me. 
(Human Will appears to completely flatten 
out on the ground at Nehemiah's feet. 
He is wholly exhausted and, in his ex- 
haustion, his tongue protrudes as if he 
were fairly eating the dust of the earth.) 
Thou art sin's serpent, doomed to eat the dust 

(Human Will is creeping away) 
Of cannot, do not, shall, and will, and must. 

Human Will 
(muttering to himself as he creeps away) 
I shall, I will, I can, I must now go 
Back to perdition, human will and woe. 

Nehemiah 
(as if prophesying) 
One comes in future days to do God's will. 
(as if beholding someone present, radiantly) 



118 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

He stills earth's tempests with Love's "Peace, 
be still !" 

(As these last words are spoken, Human 
Will, silenced, exits by creeping away.) 

(Enter Personality. He is a very large, 
clumsy, awkward, pompous man. He is 
constantly tripping as if over himself, and 
falling. He stands before Nehemiah, who 
is working, and suddenly falls before him. 
Nehemiah in turn stumbles over Per- 
sonality, but does not fall. Each time 
Nehemiah stumbles and makes a mis- 
step, some of his good work is over- 
turned.) 

Personality 

Here am I ! See me ! Here am I ! See me ! 

Here am I ! Can it be, can it be 

Thou dost not see me? 

Nehemiah 

(stumbling over Personality, but not 

falling) 

I detected thee ! 

(Personality repeatedly places himself in 
Nehemiah's way, but each time the Cup- 
bearer sees the impostor and quickly steps 
aside to avoid falling over him.) 



the king's cupbearer 119 

Personality 

(exultingly) 

Why step aside for me? Thou art afraid! 

Nehemiah 

(firmly) 

Ah, no, God made all things that were made ! 

Personality 
God? I (indicating himself) am creator, I 

am wondrous, I 

Nehemiah 
(interrupting) 
Thou'rt false from the beginning, yea, sin's 
lie! 

Personality 
Thou callest me false, then I shall go. Not 

here 
May I remain ! I must have awe and fear ! 
(Personality, much offended, rises majes- 
tically and exits) 
(Enter Human Ease, a large, very fleshy 
woman. She goes straight to the gate 
Nehemiah is working on, and reclines 
wearily upon it. She sighs.) 
Nehemiah 
(to the woman) 
Begone ! 

(Human Ease sighs and rests more easily 
on the gate.) 



120 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Begone ! 
(Human Ease sighs wearily and refuses to 

move.) 
What (peering into the woman's face) is thy 
name, pray tell? 

Human Ease 
My name is Human Ease. 

(Nehemiah tries to move her.) 
With me, 'tis well, 
Why should I move? I like it here — to rest 
Is my one business, — that is ever best ! 

Nehemiah 
(Laughs long and joyously. Continues to 
ivork ivhile he laughs happily. Human 
i?ASE sighs, and sighs, , and looks dis- 
turbed over Nehemiah's laughter.) 
Human Ease 
Why dost thou work and laugh? Why work? 

Alas! 
(She rises wearily from her couch of build- 
ing material and appears much annoyed as 
Nehemiah continues to work and laugh.) 
I cannot live with work! 

(Brushing wearily past Nehemiah.) 
Knave, let me pass! 
(exit Human Ease) 
(Enter Enemy. He has almost the exact ap- 
pearance of Nehemiah, except his care- 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 121 

less, insincere manner. He creeps stealth- 
ily about and wickedly tries to undermine 
all of Nehemiah's work. Several loud 
reports indicate that powder explosions 
are going on.) 

Nehemiah 
Thou cursed fool! Thou Enemy of mine, 

(trying to push Enemy away) 
Why dost thou come to ruin all my days — 
Thou, hypocrite, thou traitor, coward, knave, 
I loathe thy very face! 

Enemy 

Hold, sir. Pray save 
Thy curses! 

Nehemiah 

Curses? 
(as if questioning himself) 

Curses? What are they 
To drive this Enemy of mine away? 

(looking closely at Enemy) 
Where have I seen that face, that cruel 

smile ? 
(seizing Enemy and shaking him vigorously) 
I know thee now. 

(rubbing his eyes) 

Blinded was I a while 
To whom thou wert. Thou hast my very face 
With fear's contortions. 



122 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(Enemy makes ugly grimaces) 
(Nehemiah's hands raised as if in prayer) 
Give me strength and grace, 
Father, ever to know my enemy 
Is but the fear of self mine own eyes see. 
Ah, enemy, 

{to Enemy) 
I truly know that thou 
Hath counterfeited me. Go! Now, now, 
Now! 

{exit Enemy) 
{A woman, dressed in many dull colors, car- 
rying a long cloak, enters. She is Hu- 
man Goodness. She is followed by Self- 
Pity. Human Goodness slowly ap- 
proaches Nehemiah, and raising his cal- 
loused hands, looks at them, and shakes 
her head pityingly.) 

Human Goodness 
I cannot give my name. I came from one 
Who tells me of the marvels thou hast done. 
And not one Jew hath praised thee ! 
{She takes Nehemiah's hands very tenderly 
in her own and gently rubs her hands 
over them, as if feeling their callouses.) 
Self-Pity 
{to Nehemiah) 

Poor hands, true, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 123 

Toiled long, in vain, for not one grateful Jew 

Hath stayed to bless thee ! Tobiah says that 
he 

Would give thee his thanks in sincerity. 

Poor hands! Poor hands! 

(Human Goodness continues to rub Nehe- 
miah's hands. For a moment, he almost 
weeps, but quickly recovers himself, and 
snatches his hands away.) 

Nehemiah 
(peering into Human Goodness' face) 

What is thy name? Where have we met be- 
fore? 

Thou hast annoyed me much in days of yore ! 

In countless guises, woman, thou art near 

Me ever. 

(as if discouraged) 
Need I thy temptations fear? 

Thou comest in the guise of every curse, 

Pitying myself and others. Is there worse 
than thou ? 

"I am doing a great work, so that I cannot 
come down: 

Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, 

And — come — down — to — you ?" 
Human Goodness 

But thou shouldst have reward. Thou toil'st 
but they, 



124 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Those Jews (scornfully), are neither grate- 
ful nor obey 
Thy word. 

Self-Pity 

(to iVEHEMIAH) 

I, I, I, I, I, I do suffer so, — 

Hell, want, pain, death, grief, hate, sin, woe ! 
Nehemiah 

(almost assents, but quickly turning away 
from Self-Pity for a moment, regards 
his work on the wall. Again turning to 
Self-Pity.) 

What is thy name? Where have we met be- 
fore? 

Thou hast annoyed me much in days of yore. 

(Turning again to the wall, he disregards 
both the women, and begins measuring, as 
he intones these words from Psalm 78:) 

"Give ear, My people, to My law : 

Incline your ears to the words of My mouth. 

I will open My mouth in a parable : 

I will utter dark sayings of old: 

That the generation to come might know 
them, 

Even the children which should be born ; 

Who should arise and declare them to their 
children." 

{In the midst of the intonation of this Psalm, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 125 

Human Goodness, weeping bitterly, 
stands before Nehemiah.) 

Human Goodness 
(to Nehemiah, wrapping about her the 

dark cloak she carries) 
Let me be hidden! I did not intend 
To give my name. I came disguised as friend, 

(weeping) 
But I am deadly foe. Yea, oft before 
I have annoyed thee in the days of yore. 
I come oftimes to pity, oft to blame. 
I come as grief and sin and hate and shame. 
I hide the form of every curse on earth. 
(Human Goodness and Self-Pity exeunt) 

Nehemiah 
(kneeling) 

Woman, thou hast no purpose and no worth! 

God be praised ! Magnify His holy name ! 

Once more, Thy servant is redeemed from 
shame. 

(Nehemiah continues his work. Enter 
Wakefulness, Intuition, Discern- 
ment, Faith and Understanding. With 
hands raised as if blessing Nehemiah, 
all leave.) 

(Enter a shrunken, fearful man, LOVE OF 
Money, leaning heavily on the arm of a 



126 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

still smaller, shrunken woman, Limita- 
tion. She is blindfolded.) 
Love of Money 
(to Nehemiah) 
Here, listen to me ! I have much to say, 
This is for thine own good. I have a plan 
For earning money quickly, and a man 
Like thee would do so well, so well for me ! 
Come with me, I can truly make thee free. 
(Limitation interrupts, ivhile Love of 
Money slaps her rudely in the face.) 
Limitation 
(to Nehemiah) 
Thou shalt lose all as I do, day by day, 
I toil and scrimp, and wear my life away. 
Love of Money 
(eagerly, to Nehemiah) 
I have an income I will give to thee, 
Gold in abundance, so thou need'st not be 
Fettered by weary toil. Activity 
And thou shalt part. Until ye die, indeed, 
Thou shalt have money for each daily need. 
(The little man walks nervously about as he 
speaks, always dragging the woman, 
Limitation, ivith him. He is constantly 
taking papers and gold from his pockets 
that he may figure up the total of his 
wealth. He appears disturbed over the 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 127 

process, ill-at-ease with himself and the 
world.) 
There is so much to gain, — notes, bonds, 

yea, all 
Of lands and houses, mortgages! 
(eagerly) 

I call 
On thee to help me with this mighty work. 
(Love of Money takes Nehemiah command- 
ingly by the arm as if he would lead him 
away. Nehemiah draws back.) 
Limitation 
(to Nehemiah) 
Yea, thou must fail him. Thou must even 

shirk 
The duty each wouldst grasp to earn — to 

earn. 
(Love of Money takes quantities of gold from 
apparently inexhaustible pockets and 
heaps the treasure, alluringly, about NE- 
hemiah's feet. Nehemiah makes as 
if he would turn away from the gold, 
but is almost unable to do so.) 
Love of Money 
Dost thou shrink back, dost thou not yearn, 

not yearn 
For this? 

(pointing to heaps of gold) 



128 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

NEHEMIAH 
(hesitatingly, addressing himself) 
This mortar, and these joists, I know 
Must yet be paid for ! 

(Nehemiah reaches out for the money. 
Darkness falls as he is struggling over 
the heap of gold. Love of Money holds 
him closely by one hand, Limitation by 
the other. He is powerless to move.) 
To pay (hesitatingly) as I go, 
Is all I ask! 

(as if justifying himself; Limitation 
sneeringly approves) 
(to Love of Money) 
God knows, God knows, this gold 
Hath no attraction for me, but I hold 
It precious — just — to — meet 

(as if trying to convince himself) 

my daily need. 
(Daily Human Needs come flocking in. 
Darkness creeps on. Nehemiah hesitat- 
ingly reaches out his hands to the gold. 
While the darkness deepens, he may be 
seen walking in the shadows away from 
the gold, and, as he walks, he prays. 
Love of Money snatches up the coin and 
carries it to a position near the entrance. 
At this moment, the scene again becomes 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 129 

as bright as morning. Understanding 
enters.) 

(Love of Money beckons alluringly 

Understanding 
(tp Nehemiah) 

One comes in future years whose every deed 
Shall prove the Father's infinite supply 
Doth meet each hourly need. Then why 

should I 
E'er falter in this work when God, alone, 
Doth pay for every joist and beam and stone? 

Limitation 

I have no money. I have naught to pay. 

I toil and scrimp, and wear my life away ! 

(Nehemiah stands as if in prayer. A flock 
of creditors, representing, collectively, 
Daily Human Needs, come hastening in 
presenting their bills for payment. Be- 
holding Love of Money with his heaps of 
gold standing at entrance, the creditors 
believe him to be Nehemiah's steward; 
and, quickly depositing their bills, they 
snatch up Love of Money's money and 
depart, each one saying as he leaves) 

Daily Human Needs 
"Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy 



130 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

brother ; usury of money, . . . usury of any- 
thing that is lent upon usury." 

(Deut. 23:19.) 

Love of Money 
(beholding that his riches have suddenly dis- 
appeared, despairingly to Nehemiah) 
'Twas mine, 'twas mine, 'twas mine, and now 

'tis lost — 
Think of the endless toil it cost, it cost! 
(Cries out loudly while looking where his 
heaps of gold had been.) 

Nehemiah 
(compassionately) 
Poor love of money, thou art richer now 
Than thou hast ever been. 

(Love of Money shakes his head.) 
Yea, now ; yea, thou ! 
Thou, hast, indeed, no money now to love, 
Yet God hath riches that ye dream not of. 
(Going with tender compassion to Love of 
Money and embracing him. As Nehe- 
miah embraces Love of Money, Limi- 
tation creeps under Love of Money's 
long, flowing cloak and is lost from view.) 
Dear outcast, let me even call thee, friend. 
Let this be thy new name, and let me lend 
Thee all I have, — a thought, a word of cheer. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 131 

Friend, may Love bless thee on thy journeys 
here. 

Grim Limitation, too, is lost. Though she 

May seek to cling, she is no part of thee. 

(Limitation drops away from Love of 
Money and exits.) 

Robbed of the useless dross thou hadst, I see 

(peering closely into Love of Money's eyes) 

Thine eyes are bright with immortality. 

Such are thy riches, gold, — the light of youth, 

(Love of Money straightens up; appears 
youthful and happy.) 

Love in abundance, yea, the gain of Truth. 

Ah, friend, the harvests mortals daily glean 

From their earth's losses ! None hath surely 
seen 

More wondrous wealth than this! My 
friend, my friend, 

Thou hast lost all, and, yet, hast all to lend ! 

(Nehemiah and his Friend shake hands. 
Exit the Friend, formerly Love of 
Money. Nehemiah steps forward — with 
hands outstretched — while Understand- 
ing speaks.) 

Understanding 

Ah, World, when Love of Money comes, the 
light 

Of heav'n fades, and falls the darkest night 



132 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Of self. When Love of Money goes, the way 

Grows ever brighter till effulgent day 

Of Truth hath dawned. Then, never human 

need 
Shall reach us, since the Father hath, indeed, 
Met every one abundantly! Ah, World, 
For centuries thou shalt be cast, yea, hurled 
Within the maelstrom of earth's search for 

dross. 
From self thou shalt be cleansed, until nor 

loss 
Nor gain shall mar thy journeyings. Ah, 

World, 

(as if in prophecy) 
Thou shalt have all ! God's ensign, then, un- 
furled 
Shall make of thee one nation, strong and 

free, 
Provisioned with Truth's immortality. 
No limitation shall men find on earth. 
Worlds shall awaken to the wondrous worth 
Of giving all. Worlds, reasoning, shall find 
There is one law, one Substance, yea, one 

Mind. 

Nehemiah 

(in prayer) 

"Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct 

them, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 133 

And withheldest not thy manna .from their 

mouth, 
And gavest them water for their thirst." 

(Nehemiah 9:20.) 

(Nehemiah continues his work on the walls. 
Hurry comes in running. Dashes about 
stage, breathing excitedly. Rushes up to 
Nehemiah, and knocks over the gate 
which he slowly wid carefully is fitting 
into place.) 
(Nehemiah looks curiously ai, Hurry as he 
is dashing madly about from one thing to 
another.) 
There is no need for hurry. Ah, I know 
Thy name. 'Tis hurry, worry, lack of time ! 
There is, indeed, no reason, no, nor rhyme 
In thy existence. If thou wouldst not waste 
Thy days, remember, hurry hinders haste. 

Hurry 

(grabbing Nehemiah by the arm and 

pushing him around) 

Ah, friend, the time is short. This wall 

should go 
Up much more quickly! Thou art slow, so 

slow. 
Clamp that gate into place ! 
{Seizes gate, it crashes from Nehemiah's 



134 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

hand and drops down upon other clashing 

irons.) 

Stand back, thou knave, 
Canst thou not see the hours we might save ? 
Quick, bring that mortar! And that trowel 

now! 
(Harsh commanding tone. Nehemiah does 

not obey the orders.) 
Thou fool, thou knave, why falter? Quick! 

But thou 
Art slow! 

(Hurry rushes about smashing everything) 
Nehemiah 
{calmly) 
I do not thy dictations heed. God's ways 
Are higher than thy ways. My loving praise 
Goes to the Father who now leadeth me 
Reside still waters of tranquillity. 
Of all the messengers Sanballat had 
Thou art the one that makes mankind least 

glad, 
For thou art ignorance which never once 
Hath wrought one thing except, — to act the 

dunce. 
Thou canst not curse my work, nor interfere 
With my sure progress heavenward. The 

way 
Of true advancement is to wait and pray. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 135 

The one who hastens on shall know calm 

poise, 
While hurry retrogrades with deafening 

noise. 
The one who acts is always gentle, still ; 
While hurry, doing nothing, tries to fill 
The world with the importance of its ways. 
(Raising his eyes to heaven as if in prayer 

while Hurry rushes from the scene.) 
Father, thy active quietness, I praise ! 
(A quiet woman enters and approaches Ne- 

hemiah. She is Human Goodness. She 

is again shadowed by Self-Pity.) 
Human Goodness 
(to Nehemiah) 
I am thy Human Goodness. See, my friend, 
I tell thee I have never seen thee bend 
To evil. All these Jews, a crooked set, 
Have wrought, indeed, but now they would 

forget 
The need of further toil. Just thou, just 

thou, 
Art worthy ! Dost thou not see ? 
(Nehemiah listens with pleased expression) 

Now, ah, now, 
Thou canst! 

(clapping her hands glee f idly) 
Come, then, Sanballat sends the word, 



136 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

And Geshem, and Tobiah, — they have heard 

How selflessly thou toil'st, and they would see 

Thee well rewarded for thy industry. 

(Nehemiah leans his arm heavily upon 

Human Goodness' shoulder, and slowly 

ivalks tvith her to exit. His feet drag 

as if he were very weary. Not a word 

is spoken.) 

Nehemiah 
(low voice) 
Yes, yes, 'tis true. I toil alone, 'tis true. 
The world's great burdens fall upon a few! 

Self-Pity 
(whispering to Nehemiah) 
I, I, I, I. I, I do suffer so ! 
Hell, pain, death, fear, grief, hate, want, woe ! 

(Just as Nehemiah is about to exit with 
Human Goodness, he slowly steps back 
and takes his arm from her shoulder. He 
looks her searchingly in the face.) 

Thou earnest here to mock the world and me. 

Thou can'st not heal nor save nor bless nor 
free. J 

"I am doing a great work, so that 

I cannot come down: 

(turns toward wall) 

Why should the work cease, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 137 

(he picks up his tools and begins to measure 
the door openings) 

whilst I leave it, 
and come down to you?" 
(Human Goodness and Self-Pity, turn de- 
jectedly and walk toward exit. Nehe- 
miah begins hammering loudly at gates.) 

Human Goodness 
(at exit) 
(addressed pleadingly to Nehemiah, who re- 
gards her disapprovingly) 
We have been friends in days long passed 

away. 
Thy Human Goodness, dost thou remember, 

pray, 
How kind a friend I have been unto thee? 

(pleadingly) 
Why dost thou, then, refuse to go with me? 

(mockingly) 
I shall return again to thee, my friend. 
I shall remain with thee till thou shalt lend 
Almost thine all to me. A world shall sway, 
Rocked by my human goodness. Still one 

day 
I shall return to curse thee. 

(As Human Goodness and Self-Pity leave, 
Human Goodness threateningly clanks 



138 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

heavy chains. Nehemiah pauses in his 
work on the walls.) 

Nehemiah 
(shuddering) 
I fear, alas, her chains. I must be free. 
Yea, Human Goodness will return. 
(as if beholding a vision) 
I see 
A whole world swaying, nations, churches, 
men, 
Cursed by the curse of human goodness, when 
Their need is loving more, — "Just unity, 
And no questions raised." Through eternity 
All men and nations, churches, yet shall 

stand 
Together, leagued, united — yea, one band. 
(Enter Pride of Achievement, a messenger 
from Sanballat. Pride says nothing. 
He struts about looking at wall. Whistles 
proudly.) 

Pride 
(to Nehemiah) 
"plendid work ! Marvelous ! Indeed, I won- 
der, friend, 
At all thou and these Jews have done. Pray 

lend 
An ear. My governor, Sanballat, sends thee 
peace 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 139 

And joy. He would, himself, convey to thee 

these greetings. 

(looking at wall) 

Wondrous! My friend, 

didst thou do all, 
Thou and these Jews ? It seems, indeed, this 

wall 
Is built to stand. I marvel at thy might, 
Thy wondrous skill in building this aright ! 

Nehemiah 
(For a moment, he listens eagerly. A dazed, 

stupid expression steals across his face. 

With a gesture, as if pushing the words 

of Pride away from him, he speaks slowly 

— to himself.) 
"0 God, Thou art my God ; early will I seek 

thee: 
My soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth 

for Thee, 

To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have 

seen Thee 

In the sanctuary 

When I remember Thee upon my bed, 
And meditate on Thee in the night watches. 
Because Thou hast been my help, 
Therefore in the shadow of Thy wings 
Will I rejoice." (Ps. 63:1-7.) 

(Enter a driver and golden chariot; a richly 



140 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

trapped beast. A footman and messenger 
are close at hand.) 

Messenger 
(to Pride) 
My lord, I wait; and art thou ready quite? 
If so, we'll journey onward, e'er 'tis night. 
Pride 
(pleadingly to Nehemiah) 
Come down with me. Sanballat waits to hear 
Thy mighty conquest over sin and fear. 
Come with me, friend. 

Nehemiah 
(resolutely) 
"I am doing a great work, 
So that I cannot come down: 
Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, 
And — come — down — to — you ?" 

(Nehemiah 6:3.) 
Pride 
(insisting) 
They wait for thee at Ono. 
Nehemiah 
Let them wait ! I have a work. Yea, I know 
It must continue. 

Pride 
(pointing to wall) 
To tell them of this dost thou refuse to go? 
Come with me to the village of Ono. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 141 

NEHEMIAH 
"I am doing a great work, so that I cannot 

come down: 
Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, 
And come down to you?" 

(Nehemiah 6:3.) 
{The driver slowly turns the chariot around; 

the footman, the messenger and Pride 

follow. They exeunt while Nehemiah 

slowly repeats:) 
"Why should the work cease, whilst I leave 

it, 
And come down to you?" 
{Enter Jealousy. She is a deceitful looking 

woman with face wreathed in vain smiles. 

She approaches Nehemiah and looks 

with sinister smiles at his work.) 
Jealousy 
Why this is Nehemiah? {with surprise) 

Long ago 
I knew thee. We were friends, dost thou 

recall 
Those days in Babylon ? I little knew 
That thou wouldst prove a master over all 
This mighty work! 

{Smiling with pained expression.) 
No one is more rejoiced than I am, friend, 
At all thy progress! 



142 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(As if trying to convince herself of her joy.) 

Ah, I am so glad 
Thou dost so well, my friend; and if I had 
My way, I would confer on thee all good! 
I am not jealous, — all is understood 
With me. No one could wish thee more than I 
Of great success ! 
(As if determined he should believe her.) 
So glad — so glad, friend! Why 
This vast success ? 

Nehemiah 

(not looking up from his work) 

I know thy voice ! Thy face I have not seen ! 

Thy words spell J-e-a-1-o-u-s-y. I have not 

been 
Deceived by all thou say'st of my success, — 
I know full well, thou lovest me no less 
Than this work I would do. Go from me, go, 
Admiring jealousy. Thou canst not know 
The purpose of my days. Why shouldst thou 
tell 

Me pleasing nothings of my work, when hell 
Is where ye wish to drag me? 

(Lifting his eyes in prayer.) 

Ah, 'tis true 
"Of mine own self, I do no thing," one prays, 
In future years: 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 143 

(as if in prophecy) 

"Yea, I forever do 
That which the Father does;" indeed, God's 

ways 
Are higher than my thoughts. 
(Jealousy with poisoned, admiring glances 

exits) 

(Nehemiah raises both hands as if he were 

fairly lifted up from the earth) 

Father, thanks, praise! 
(Four men enter carrying mortar-trough; 

after placing it, they exeunt.) 
(Nehemiah turns back to the contemplation 
of the work on the wall. Prejudice, a 
messenger from Sanballat, enters, al- 
most creeps about, and whispers as if 
frightened. Goes up to mortar which Ne- 
hemiah is mixing, and looks at it fear- 
fully.) 
Some one has mixed this mortar wrong, my 

friend, 
Sh — what have I said. I did not mean to tell 
That shameful plot. 

Nehemiah 
A plot ye say? Pray lend 
Assistance in unraveling it. 
(Nehemiah ceases his work and appears to 
be much disturbed.) 



144 the king's cupbearer 

Prejudice 
Meshuliam, Zadok, Ezra, ah, for shame! 
I should not speak of this ! I would not say 
One word to turn thee from thy friendships, 

nay, 
Not one word; but (whispering) , 'twas Shal- 

lum said to me 

That ye were hard task-master! Ah, I see 

I have been wrong in telling this. 

(As if repentant.) 

Nehemiah 

(continuing his mixing of mortar) 

Alas, thy name 
Is prejudice! (pointing to exit) Go! Thou 

may'st pass 
Forever from my sight ! Thou canst not tell 
The light from darkness. Go, the gates of 

hell 
Swing back for such as thee. 

(Prejudice, muttering, starts to leave.) 
Prejudice 

I wouldst not turn 
Thee e'er against a brother, but, I yearn 
To tell thee how Hanani says that thou 
Sh — art basely wrong — Sh, what have 1 
spoken now? 

Nehemiah 
(dropping his mortar mixer, he places hands 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 145 

over ears so that he cannot hear) 
Of all the messengers Sanballat prides, 
Thou art the falsest one,— yea, thou ! Death 

hides 
Behind thy muttered murmurings! Go now 
From me — Ah, never more shalt thou 
Deceive me, crafty, whispering abuse; 
Thy name is prejudice, and I refuse 
To listen to thee, coward! Whispering, 
Go back to Hades whence thy lispings spring. 
I shall rely on God to tell me all 
About my fellow-man. (lifting eyes) 

On Him I call 
For righteous judgment ! God, alone, is 

good, 
And, in His sight, man now is understood! 
One day, a singer comes to earth to say : 
"Our feet shall stand" within Jerusalem 
Where human prejudice no more hath sway. 
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." 

(Psalms 122:6.) 
(Exit Prejudice.) 
(A small man, Persecution, carrying a whip 
of many cords, enters. He appears proud 
of himself. He glides craftily here and 
there and everywhere. Nehemiah, not 
observing Persecution's entrance, con- 
tinues his work. Persecution wickedly 



146 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

looks at Nehemiah as he works and gives 

him a fearful lash with the whip on his 

back. The Cupbearer, startled, looks up 

with pained expression. Enter Human 

Goodness and Self-Pity. They say 

nothing, but stand solicitously at Nehe- 

miah's side. Nehemiah, taking a few 

steps, observes Persecution standing 

prominently before him, and immediately 

the Cupbearer's expression of suffering 

changes to a look of relief.) 

Nehemiah 

(to Persecution) 

Ah ha, I see thee now, thou gav'st the blow 

That turned me from my work ! I know thy 

name, — 
'Tis Persecution. Yea, I surely know 
That thou hast caused me all this grief and 

shame ! 
(As Nehemiah weeps, Persecution, step- 
ping out into a more prominent position, 
appears to be most happy.) 
Persecution 
(proudly, to Nehemiah) 
Ah, yes, I struck the blow at thee, my friend, 
My name is Persecution ; many fear 
The grief and ravages I daily send 
To those whose mission is to conquer here. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 147 

(proudly) 
I struck the blow ! 

(strutting about as if pleased 
with himself) 
Nehemiah 
(turning sadly to his work 
— to himself) 
He struck the blow ! Ah, me, 
When shall I from the curse of self be free? 
(These words are said discontentedly as if 
dissatisfied with himself and the whole 
world. Persecution, turning quickly, 
strikes the Cupbearer a stinging blow, 
this time over the head.) 
'Twas thou, 

(turning defiantly toward Self Pity) 
Self Pity, who hath done this thing ! 
I shall not take thy curses! Suffering 
Is not my portion ! 

(again Persecution steals up behind and 
lashes Nehemiah cruelly over the head) 

Persecution 
(appearing boldly before Nehemiah) 

No, No, 'twas I who lashed thee, — 
My name is Persecution. 

(pleadingly) 

Call me so, 
And credit me with all I do ! 



148 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Self-Pity 
(to Nehemiah) 
(She wears a pained, pious expression. Her 
eyes are* turned deceitfully upward. When 
she speaks, she whispers whiningly in 
Nehemiah's ear) 
Oh, how I suffer ! How I hear each blow ! 
I, I, I, I, I suffer so, so, so ! 

Human Goodness 
No one has stood alone, unloved, as thou,— 
Martyr of martyrs, cursed here, hated now I 
This blow came from my human goodness ! 

I 

(Nehemiah turns tp his work. Again Per- 
secution strikes a stinging blow as if in 
refutation of the claims of Human Good- 
ness.) 

Persecution 
(interrupting, to Human Goodness) 
Ah, no, it did not! I will tell thee why 
I struck the blow! 

Nehemiah 
(to Persecution) 
I scorn, indeed, each word thou sayest, 

knave ! 
And call thee not by name that thou wouldst 
crave. 



the king's cupbearer 149 

Persecution 
(eagerly) 
'Twas Persecution struck the blow, I, I, 
My name is Persecution, why, 0, why, 
Not credit me with all I do? Why pray? 

Nehemiah 
(firmly) 
I scorn, indeed, each word thou sayest; nay, 
I need not thee believe ! I shall not say 
Thy name. 

(Enter Understanding; 

Persecution 
(angrily) 
I go! I shall not stay, — not here! 
Unless thou cairst me Persecution, Fear! 
I like my name; no other one, alas, 
Becometh me. 
(Brushing with disgust past Nehemiah, 

Persecution takes Human Goodness 
and Self-Pity by the arm and leads them 
away.) 
Knave, traitor, let me pass! 

(Persecution and Human Goodness walk 
defiantly together to entrance. They 
exeunt.) 



150 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Nehemiah 

(to Understanding) 

When human goodness shall have passed 

away, 
Frail persecution shall have no more sway. 
Understanding 
(to Nehemiah) 
This is the greatest wisdom men can know, — 
That persecution never struck one blow. 
When this is known in churches, nations, 

then, 
We shall have joy among the sons of men. 
The summit of one's search for Truth and 

good 
Is knowing in Mind's loving brotherhood 
There is no persecution. All is love. 

Nehemiah 
Then God is Lord of earth and heav'n above. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 151 



CANTICLE VIII. 



Description : Same as Canticle VII. Morn- 
ing scene. Over-bright sun 
typifying unrest. Enter 
twelve very small children. 
They quarrel incessantly 
among themselves. They 
constantly get in Nehemi- 
ah's way and howl angrily 
over the least provocation. 
Collectively they represent 
Human Birth. 

Discovered: Twelve noisy children troop- 
ing in, and Human Goodness. 

Human Birth (First Small Child) 
(stubbing toe on building material and howl- 
ing bitterly) 
Oh, my, oh, my, oh, my, my toe ! 

(sitting down and holding toe in hands) 

my toe ! 
Human Goodness 
My toe ! 
(As each child speaks, Human Goodness 



152 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

repeats the last word of each sentence 
like an echo.) 
(All of the children crowd noisily about the 
injured one. Some of them laugh mis- 
chievously. Others push and crowd and 
knock each other over. Some whine. 
Others cry for fear. Some laugh loudly. 
The uproar is terrific as\ one child 
pushes another and shrieks: "Leave me 
alone!' 9 and another shouts: "Coward!" 
Suddenly someone throws bright colored 
baubles in the midst of the children. To- 
gether they roar hoarsely: "Good, good, 
good, good!" The baubles quickly vanish 
as the children reach put for them. Chil- 
dren all howl as baubles vanish.) 

Nehemiah 
(tenderly, to children) 
Where have I seen before such human woe? 
Where have I seen such poor untempered zest 
O'er life's vain baubles which but live at best 
One moment? 

(as if remembering) 
Ah, I recall, in days long gone, 
I, too, believed myself a child who grew 
As others bade me. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 153 

Human Birth (Second Small Child) 
(accusing all the children) 
He knew, he, he knew ! 

Human Goodness 
He knew! 

Human Birth (Third Small Child) 
(snatching something from another child) 
He took that ! 

He took that! Don't you know, I told him 
not to do that? 

Human Goodness 
Not to do that! 

Human Birth (Fourth Small Child) 
It's mine! 

It's mine! You knew that was mine, now, 
didn't you? 

Human Goodness 
Now, didn't you? 

Human Birth (Fifth Small Child) 
I tell ye, it's mine! (sobbing) 
I tell ye, it's mine ! (sobbing) . And you know 
it, too. You do ! You do ! Now, don't you ? 

Human Goodness 
Now, don't you ? 

Human Birth (Sixth Small Child) 
It's mine. I wouldn't be dishonest like you. 
I can prove I'm honest. Yon know you 
can't. Can you? 



154 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Human Goodness 
Can you? 

Human Birth (Seventh Small Child) 
I had it first ! You can't deny that, can you ? 

Human Goodness 
Can you? 

Human Birth (Eighth Small Child) 
I did! 

Human Goodness 
I did! 

Human Birth (Ninth Small Child) 
He took it ! 
He took it! You know he did. Don't you? 

Human Goodness 
Don't you? 

Human Birth (Tenth Small Child) 
It's mine. My sister gave it to me ! 

Human Goodness 
Gave it to me! 

Human Birth (Eleventh Small Child) 
She stole it! You saw her take it, didn't 
you? 

Human Goodness 
Didn't you? 

Human Birth (Twelfth Small Child) 
He did! Shame! Coward! 

Human Goodness 
Coward ! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 155 

Human Birth (First Small Child) 

(trying to protect a child) 

Leave him alone, he's my brother. 

He's honest and so am I. We can prove it, 

too. We can prove that you took that ! 

Human Goodness 

You took that ! 

;Human Birth (Second Small Child) 

(Indicating child and pushing tormentor 

aside scornfully.) 

Human Goodness 

Coward, fool, you, you! 

You! You! 

Nehemiah 
The words of God may now be understood. 
(beholding the quarreling of children) 
I credit not mine eyes. This is not true. 
(Raising hand as if stilling a tempest. The 
children immediately become quiet and 
listen. Exit Human Goodness.) 
Love knows no human birth, self's devious 

ways 
Of f retf ulness, and fear, and shouts of praise ! 
(Enter Understanding. The children's in- 
coherent arguments gradually cease.) 
Understanding 
Thy human questionings must one day cease. 
Love's government shall bring eternal peace. 



156 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Nehemiah 
Yea, "Just unity and no questions raised" 
In nation, home nor church! Let God be 
praised ! 

Understanding 
None can deny that God is Father of 
All men and that He doth create through 
love! 

Nehemiah 
(Compassionately to the children.) 
Dear children, how I love thee, waifs of 

earth, 
God will reveal to thee thine own new birth ! 

(as if in prophecy) 
I raise no questions with thee. God is good ! 
In unity all things are understood ! 

Understanding 
Mere human goodness is forever vain ; 
Its quarreling must be hushed to ever gain 
True understanding which will lead men on 
Past fear of self until earth's wars are won. 
To-day, the tribes of Israel shall come, 
Yea, twelve of them, to lead thee safely home, 
Beside still waters, where man hath not age 
Nor youth ! 
(The children, as if in prayer, clasp their 
hands and look up to heaven.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 157 

Nehemiah 
Come, tribes of Israel, come here! 
(Enter twelve Israelites, six men and six 
women. There is a hushed silence while 
each one takes a child gently by the 
hand.) 
(approvingly, to the silent tribes) 
Unity governs wisely every one. 
With no more "questions raised," God's will 
is done. 

All the Children 
(together) 
How glad we are! There is naught now to 
fear! 

Understanding 
(indicating the Tribes) 
They are Love's silent approbation. When 
The world is free, all men shall love all men. 
When approbation of all men is giv'n, 
Man's home and church and marriage art in 

heav'n. 
(Each of the twelve children, led by a rep- 
resentative of the twelve tribes of Israel, 
passes by Nehemiah. The Cupbearer 
tenderly places his hand on each child as 
if giving a blessing.) 

Nehemiah 
Thou shalt be safely led o'er moor and fen, 



158 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

And shouldst thou stumble thou shalt rise 
again. 

(lovingly to children) 

These Tribes of Israel shall guard and tell 

Thee how to go. Dear children, all is well ! 

Truth's peace be ever with thee on thy way 

To Life, eternal, and effulgent day, 

Where man is neither old nor young — where 
he . 

Dwells as God's image through eternity. 

(As the children and Twelve Tribes of Israel 
are quietly leaving the stage, Under- 
standing prays.) 

Understanding 

Thank God for silent witnesses of good ! 

With them, all men are truly understood. 

The silent Tribes of Israel shall bless 

Mankind with health and peace and happi- 
ness. 

When men and nations silently agree, 

The world shall know the Truth which 
makes it free. 

And when in church all questions cease for 
aye 

The world shall waken to eternal day. 

(Brightness of noon-day. Ex- 
cessive heat, denoting weari- 
ness.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 159 

{Enter Maturity, a man who appears to 
be fast growing old. He carries a large 
mirror in one hand and a bottle of hair 
dye in the other. Maturity constantly 
places the mirror before Nehemiah and 
attempts to touch up his hair.) 

Maturity 
{fearfully to Nehemiah) 
I fear for thee ! Thou art not well, alas ! 
Why shouldst thou work, my friend, thy 

youth will pass 
From thee ! 

{peering into Nehemiah's face) 

Or, hath it gone, indeed, — 
The while thou toilest over work's dead 

creed? 
I am afraid for thee, thou troubl'st me! 
This heat is very great ! Alas, my friend, 
I fear for thee — I do so long to send 
Thee to thy rest in bed of ease, to-day, 
Where thou couldst sleep earth's stupid 
hours away. 

Nehemiah 

{scornfully) 

'Tis strange that thou shouldst come, when 

I can see 
The very Truth that maketh all men free. 



160 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Maturity 
I always come — Set Ways, Gray Hair, Old 

Age,— 
No one resists me — layman, Christian, sage ! 
If thou wilt never rest, then let me bring 
This touch of youth to thee. 
(Again tries to touch up Nehemiah's hair.) 

Thy suffering 
Hath brought thee age. 

Nehemiah 
(to Maturity) 
I know this argument, maturity — 
This cursed falsity, this cruel fear — 
This baseless nothing cannot enter here. 
Man is forever young, forever old, 
Forever childlike — God's law hath foretold ! 

(Pushes Maturity beyond exit.) 
(Enter a dark, sinister-looking man with 
long, flowing robes. He carries a large 
black sack over his shoulder. His robes 
fly about as if blown by the wind. He 
is Discouragement.) 

(Night falls. Extremely cold 
and desolate.) 
Discouragement 
(to Nehemiah) 
What, alone! Where are the lazy Jews to- 
day? 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 161 

Thou workest here so long, and wherefore, 

pray? 
Thou hast, indeed, no portion when 'tis done. 
(Nehemiah drops his hammer, rubs his 
forehead and listens.) 
I often wonder why thou shouldst do 
This useless work and slay thyself ! 'Tis true 
No Jew will thank thee. Come, and rest, my 

friend. 
A chariot awaits without. Just lend 
Thy time to us a while, and thou shalt be 
Repaid, indeed, for thy sincerity. 
Here no one knows. 

(Nehemiah sadly assents.) 
Yea, no one cares ! 

(Nehemiah agrees) 

I see 
Thou art well-nigh discouraged. 

(Nehemiah leans dejectedly against the 
wall.) 
Come with me ! 
(Nehemiah takes a few steps toward Dis- 
couragement and draws back.) 
I journey incognito and 'tis well — 
I am of noble birth. Come, I will tell 
Thee of thy portion, sleep ; thy sacred right 
To take the easy way of work. Dark night 
Enfolds thee in oblivion, my friend. 



162 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(Long arms, with flowing sleeves, held high 
over Nehemiah's head.) 

Trust all to me, trust all, and I will send 

Thy soul to hell (eagerly) and there my par- 
ent, Death, 

Will rob thee of thine all, — thy very breath ! 

(Takes from the sack thrown over his shoul- 
der a handful of seeds, and scatters them 
about. As seeds fall, loud, harsh noises 
are heard.) 

This is my grain, — seeds of dismay. Why 
stand 

Beside that wall in danger? 

(Fearful noises as seeds fall. Nehemiah, 
frightened, drops tools from his hands.) 
From thine hand 
(indicating tools) 

They fall ! Come, let us in God's house now 
meet, 

Within the temple. Fear would slay thee ! 

(Loud reports of hail and sleet. Flashes of 
lightning. Stage becomes like blackest 
night. Evil imps, small of stature, whisk 
about everywhere. They tug at Nehe- 
miah's garments, bearing him almost to 
the ground, hang about his neck, whisper 
in his ear and mock him.) 

Sleet, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 163 

Hail, and lightning, — in the night they come. 

(Discouragement steps forward and takes 

Nehemiah's hand as if to lead him from 

danger.) 

Come with me, friend, and I will lead thee 

home — 
Straight to our safe abiding place in hell. 
Come with me, and my parent, Death, will 

tell 
Thee of thy greatness ! 

(Nehemiah goes with him a few steps. The 
hail, thunder, and lightning cease and 
imps drop down behind heaps of building 
material. A lethargic peace seems to 
settle down.) 

Nehemiah 
{with a start, as if awakening) 
To— tell— of me— me? 

Discouragement 
(quickly as if correcting his words) 
To let thee tell of all the work that thou 
Hast wrought upon these walls. Come with 
me, now! 

Nehemiah 
(drawing back) 
To speak of one's own self is at a loss ! 
God bears true witness here ! Why should I 
cross 



164 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

The barriers of hell to talk with thee 
And Death about myself? I must be free ! 

Discouragement 
(still pleading) 
How still it is, — so quiet now! Ah, see, 
Thou may'st have peace if thou wilt come 

with me. 
(Nehemiah draws himself up to his full 
height, 'and towers above Discourage- 
ment who appears to shrivel away almost 
to nothing.) 

Nehemiah 
(to Discouragement) 
I ask, should such a man as I then flee ? 
(Steps with firm strides to wall and, seizing 
huge gates, clamps them into place. Dis- 
couragement partially rises again and 
begins once more to scatter seeds but the 
sounds are very faint and soon die away. 
In low, weak voice Discouragement tries 
to argue with Nehemiah, who continues 
his work.) 

Discouragement 

(to Nehemiah) 

Come — Come — (very faint, — hail — thunder 

— lightning — ) 
(very low voice) Come — come home — 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 165 

Home — (very low ) — home — home — hell — 

home — 
Home — home — hell — home — home. 
(Nehemiah rises to full height beside the 
nearly finished wall. One of the few last 
gates is clamped into place. He pays no 
heed to the whisperings of Discourage- 
ment but joyously continues his task.) 
Nehemiah 
(to himself — proudly) 
'Tis nearly finished! (sigh of relief) Ah! I 

have done well, 
To stand against my enemies and foes. 
How well I wrought, the future ages tell, 
How well I stood, the God in heaven knows ! 
(As Nehemiah speaks of himself, one of the 
smallest and most persistent of imps 
perches on a pile of building material, 
and just as Nehemiah finishes these 
words, the imp tries to press a dark, green 
vial between his lips.) 
Imp 
(pressing vial to Nehemiah's lips) 
Taste, taste it, friend, 'tis very, very sweet. 
Nehemiah 
(struggling to get away) 
Why should I taste it? 
(as he speaks, the Imp quickly pours some of 



166 THE KING'S CUPEEARER 

its contents down his throat?) 

Imp 

(to Nehemiah) 

Because 'tis truly meet 
That thou shouldst know all woe. 

Nehemiah 
This (striking vial from his mouth) taste 

(tasting), it is — 
Like cursed poison ! 

(As he begins to moan, Death enters dressed 
in black flowing robe; he is very old and 
bent.) 

Death 

(to Nehemiah) 

Did some one call? Is this 

The place where I am wanted ? 

Nehemiah 

(to Death) 

No one called. 
No, not wanted! (angrily) 
Death 
(to Nehemiah) 
I heard a moan, my name, 
Another name for Death ; in fact, some know 
No other name for Death but uttered woe! 
(Death steals across the stage and takes 
both of Nehemiah's hands. The Imps 
smile wickedly at Nehemiah while Dis- 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 167 

COURAGEMENT scatters seeds of discord. 
Loud noises, hail, thunder. Flashes of 
lightning. It is still very dark.) 
Thy hands are cold, my friend, just let me 

hold 
Them close ! They are so very, very cold. 
(Nehemiah shudders as if overcome with 
cold. Enter Sight, Hearing, Touch, 
Taste, Smell, and quietly take their 
places at his side. They appear power- 
less to act.) 

Nehemiah 
(to the five men, as he sinks down upon a 

pile of building material) 
I see, and smell, and taste, and touch, and 

hear, 
And, yet, I almost yield to cursed fear. 

(calling loudly) 
Come, Wakefulness and Intuition, come, 
And lead me on to Life's eternal home. 

(as if in a death struggle) 
Discernment, Faith 

And Understanding, each has understood! 
(Looking appealingly toward five men.) 
All senses change forms at once to those of 
women. Nehemiah appears relieved.) 
Faith 
(Kneeling down and speaking clearly into 



168 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Nehemiah's right ear, while Death con- 
tinues to whine in his left ear. Nehe- 
miah's face undergoes a mighty change 
and struggle. The right side of his face, 
while Faith is speaking, seems tp be 
freed from pain. The left side twitches 
nervously as if in great pain. While 
Faith speaks, the scene is bright and 
warm.) 
Thou asked for just one day of gratitude, 
For vict'ry over cares, diseases, fears. 
I heard thee praising God, friend, as I stood 
Beside thee in thy work ! A thousand years 
Of blessings daily come to one who prays 
Rejoicingly, and thanks God for His ways. 
Thou needst not fear this monster, death, 

for he 
Is stupid sleep, weak inactivity. 
One day, a Master tenderly will say: 
"Thy faith hath made thee whole. Go thou 

in peace/' 
His words are spoken now. This very day 
Thou shalt have faith. Earth's tumults, 
then, must cease. 

(Faith rises and steps aside) 

Death 

{whispering whiningly in Nehemiah's left 

ear; scene changes to dark, cold night) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 169 

How dark the night ! I am unloved and old ! 
My happiness is past ! How very cold 
This place is! In the yesterdays, I had 
So many joys to make me very glad. 
I loved the past! This present hour, I hate! 
I want to die! Why stay here? Wherefore 

wait 
For joy within the world, when joy is gone? 
While others have glad days, I mourn alone ! 

Intuition 
(kneeling, speaks clearly into Nehemiah's 

right ear. Bright light) 
Death is the myth of myths. Human despair 
And fretfulness its creed. Beset with care, 
Death's other self is age, old age, that lends 
Nor gives joys of to-day. Death's yesterday 

now sends 
It to its doom. 

Nehemiah 

(With doubt, to Intuition; looking fearfully 

toward Death.) 

Thou speak'st as if, indeed, 

Death were not someone! Why say'st: "Its 

creed 
Is fretfulness?" 
Is Death not someone, then ? 



170 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Intuition 
(Bright scene.) 
Death is a counterfeit. Time and again 
It comes to speak to us, as person, when 
It is not person, place, nor anything! 
(Death continues to whine incoherently into 
Nehemiah's left ear. Nehemiah winces 
as if in pain. Intuition rises and steps 
aside. The scene again becomes dark.) 
Nehemiah 
Alas! Alas! This cruel suffering! 
Death 
(exultingly) 
Ah me, ah me, in Babylon, my friend, 
Thou didst have joy as Cupbearer. Why lend 
Thy self to those who have no thought for 

thee? 
None loves nor pities thee! None cares to 

see 
Thee now ! I know, for I am old, so old ! 
My name is Death, Old Age. Ah, I have told 
Thee mournful facts! 

Nehemiah 
(as if weakening) 

I know ! Yea, I grow old ! 
My happiness is past ! Friends turn away ! 
It was not thus, alas, in former day! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 171 

Ah, these are mournful facts which Death 
hath told. 

Discernment 
(speaking clearly in Nehemiah's right ear. 

Light.) 
Thou shalt prove faithful, friend, patient, 

and kind, 
Thou shalt be grateful still to work and give ! 
— This is the good no man can e'er unbind, — 
Thou shalt be patient that all men may live. 
Thou needst not fear this monster, death. 
Rise, see, 

'Tis stupid sleep, weak inactivity. 
Death 
(to Nehemiah 
Night scene.) 
The ones who built with thee, thy very own, 
Hath turned away from thee ; and now, alone, 
Thou f acest the end of all ! Is there worse 
Than just to have as heritage Death's curse? 
Why have they turned from thee, those shift- 
less men, 
To let thee die alone, unloved? Ah, when 
Shall we poor mortals wake to sadly see 
We have no portion save disloyalty ? 

Nehemiah 
Must we poor mortals wake to sadly see 
We have no portion save disloyalty? 



172 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Why do I mutter words Death speaks to me? 
May I not voice the Truth that sets men free? 
Why doth it seem all friends have turned 

away? 
Is God not God in heav'n, eternally? 
This work of mine, could it have been for 

naught, — 
Why do I speak of self, what I have wrought? 
Understanding 
(comes quietly forward and kneels close 
to Nehemiah 
Bright scene.) 
To speak forever, friend, of God's great good 
Is loving charity. Well understood 
Is man's true character when God is claimed 
As his Creator, — none is cursed nor blamed. 
The work upon this wall is not of men, — 
None shall subtract nor add to it again. 
Thou needst not fear thy work shall pass 

away 
— And this is Life — o'er work death hath no 

sway 
(Death binds Nehemiah with heavy, cold 
chains. Nehemiah groans and breathes 
heavily.) 

Nehemiah 
(shuddering) 
How cold, alas, how very, very cold 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 173 

These chains are ! 

Wakefulness 
(Light.) 
Yet they cannot ever hold 
Thee from thy work. Thou shalt arise and 

go, 
As victor over sin and fear and woe. 
Death hath no power to bind the one who, 

freed 
From self, goes forth to meet another's need. 
(Nehemiah continues to breathe heavily. He 
appears to be in a death struggle. Death 
exults over every groan.) 
Nehemiah 
(gaspingly) 
Self! Self! Self! 
Self ! — From self may I then go ? 
Pain! Self! Fear! 
Death! Want! Woe! 

Death 
(exultingly as Nehemiah's breath becomes 

fainter) 
Ah, this is death ! I saw it long ago, — 
This closing off of breath ! I know ! I know ! 
Thou saw'st my mother breathe her last and 

go; 
Thy father, too, ye saw it long ago. 
Ah, this is death ! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

It is the separation which I fear. 

Thou shalt be far away from here, from here. 

Thy hands are cold! 

(Holds Nehemiah's hands.) 

Yea, very cold, alas. 
I fear for thee. Thou know'st that I shall pass 
Death's boundaries. 

Nehemiah 
(Rising with a struggle, gaspingly.) 
Why dost thou speak of thee 
And me as ever one ? 

Death 
Ah, wouldst thou see 
Death's mysteries? 

(As if explainng a puzzle.) 

I would confound, confuse 
Thy name with mine, so that if thou wouldst 

choose 
Thine own, thou shalt, indeed, draw forth 

my name, 
Fast intertwined with thine. This is Death's 

game 
Of self, — a wicked prattle 'tis, indeed, 
To speak thy name and mine together so. 
Yea, Babylon confounded is my creed. 
Thine heritage and mine art self and woe* 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 175 

NEHEMIAH 
(shuddering) 
A tiny speck before my eye appears. 
It blots out all the world ! Death, all thy fears 
Art come to pass ! 

(Small black speck dances before Death's 
and Nehemiah's eyes. A dark and 
dreadful cloud, zigzag flashes of lightning. 
A dense, dark mist, spreading itself like a 
heavy cloud settles over all. Shrieks of 
women, screams of children, the shouts of 
men, some screaming, "0, let me die!' 9 ; 
some begging, "O, let me die!"; children 
crying, "O, why must I die!" Many homds 
lifted through the clouds of human war- 
fare as if reaching out vainly for help. 
Nehemiah, with a mighty struggle, 
raises himself on his elbow, and beholds 
the death struggle of a world. The ex- 
pression of his face changes quickly from 
intense fear to tender compassion. He 
reaches out both hands as if he would 
grasp the hands of those extended through 
the dark clouds and mist. Nehemiah, 
with wondrous strength, rises to his feet 
and lifts his eyes to heaven.) 



176 the king's cupbearer 

Understanding 
(to Nehemiah) 

Self is the speck that now 
Doth dance before thy sight! 
I ask, canst thou 

(As if speaking to All.) 
Not see this speck wouldst shut out all the 

light 
Of good ? Father, I lift mine eyes to thee ! 
(speck disappears) 

Nehemiah 
(gratefully to Understanding) 
The speck of self is vanished ! I am free ! 
I stand a freed man now ! I, strong and well, 
Health, joy and peace, for all mankind fore- 
tell! 
Is all mankind involved in Death's dire woe ; 
Must they through endless night of fear then 

go? 
The world, itself, is perishing, and I 
Am crushed and buried in the heap ! Ah, 

why 
Should they 

(with compassion) 
not rise this moment, now, and be 
Transformed from death to immortality? 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 177 

(in earnest prayer) 
God save mankind, this hour ! Father, their 

need 
Is more than mine! I pray, may they be 
freed ! 

(as if in prophecy) 
The shepherds, keeping watch, shall see the 

light 
Of one brave star of Love. Yea, though dark 

night 
Of fear may settle o'er the world, they see 
The star of Truth's new birth that makes 

men free! 
(A bright star shines clearly down through 
the night of darkness and dispels the 
gloom. The hands reaching out for help 
vanish in the light.) 
The star that images God's wondrous might 
Of health, and holiness, and endless right. 
Death 
(as if disheartened) 
Thou prayest for the world? Alas, in vain 
I wait for thee ! 

Nehemiah 
(to Death) 
Thy loss becomes earth's gain ! 
Death's dream is false ! (triumphantly) An- 
other comes to say : 



178 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

"Where is thy sting ?" and where, grave, is 

thy way 
Of victory ? 
(Death sinks to the floor and falls into a 

dead sleep. Nehemiah laughs joyously.) 
Death takes the form of sleep. 
This is the one disguise that death would 

keep. 

(Nehemiah calls messengers; 

two men enter.) 

Come, Messengers, and carry out this form 

Of death. Disguised as sleep, death seeks to 

harm 
All men. Self, self alone! Death's very 

curse 
Is finite fear of self — could there be worse? 
Death is nor person, place, nor anything — 
Its one disguise is self and suffering. 

(The messengers carry Death from the 
stage. Nehemiah turns back to his work. 
Enter Enemy. He is the counterfeit of 
Nehemiah.) 

,r Tis finished, as our enemies shall see. 
My God, think thou upon them, those who 

cursed 
Our labor ! Not for once, not once, I durst 
Not think of them! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 179 

Enemy 

(Waving the Union Flag, — to Nehemiah.) 

Come, we will talk of thee. Come, hell, come, 
home! 

Come, let us ponder thy life's martyrdom! 

I can reverse thy vict'ry over death ; 

I still can rob thee of thy very breath. 

(Exit the five women. Enemy beckons as if 
to unseen allies. All of the evil mes- 
sengers previously appearing in this scene 
hasten in, each bearing in one hand a 
flaming vial of boiling oil and pitch, and 
in the other a national emblem. Flags 
of all nations are displayed. The mes- 
sengers war among themselves. In his 
effort to separate them and establish 
peace, Nehemiah is fairly flooded with 
the burning oil and tar. A beautiful 
woman enters slowly and seats herself at 
a table at left, quite aloof from the war- 
ring messengers. In one hand she holds 
an open Book of the Law, and in the 
other the Stars and Stripes. She has the 
appearance of a woman-child. She is sat- 
isfied, radiant, prosperous. Heaps of gold 
and bright colored toys are laid constantly 
on the table before her by pages, who 
quickly enter and leave. Enemy seizes a 



180 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

small messenger wrapped in a tattered 
green flag, and stationed before Nehe- 
miah, crushes the child under foot. 
Enemy attempts to strangle the waif 
with the Union Flag. The child, mock- 
ingly and vivaciously attempting to talk 
and moan in one breath, frequently 
escapes from Enemy's grasp, and limps 
over to the woman, only to be roughly 
dragged back by Enemy to again obstruct 
Nehemiah's vision. Nehemiah appears 
burdened. Unsuccessful in separating 
the warring messengers, he looks eagerly 
toward the woman for help. She sends 
money and scrolls of advice through her 
pages to Nehemiah and the messengers, 
but makes no effort to enter into the 
struggle.) 

Desire-to-be- Alone 
We are Desire-to-be-Alone, sin's throng 
Of evil messengers — we are pride's strong 
Desire to think of self for good or ill. 
Desire to be alone is our one will. 
Nehemiah 
{beseechingly, to the woman) 
Why should'st thou stand aloof forever? 
(Nehemiah attempts to steady the wall and 
at the same time to read from the Book of 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 181 

the Lata, while Enemy, flaunting the 
Union Flag and crushing the lame child, 

interferes. With back to the wall, by a 

supreme effort, Nehemiah keeps the 

structure from crashing.) 

Woman of Nations, come, and aid me now! 
Desire-to-be-Alone 

My boundaries are safe. I am at peace. 

Why should I ever enter quarrels like these? 

I need not fight. I need not be dismayed, 

When I can stand alone and unafraid ! 

(As Nehemiah beckons, one by one the mes- 
sengers come to the support of the totter- 
ing wall. Each places his national en- 
sign as a support to the crumbling struc- 
ture. As this is done, the flags of many 
nations are hidden from view. Desire- 
to-be-Alone wraps her Stars and Stripes 
closely about her, and refuses to move.) 

Earth's tumult wearies me. I love to rest 

Secure in my own peace, yea, this/is best! 

God has been good to give me this safe place, 

So far away from sin and war. His grace 

Hath well protected me! 
Nehemiah 
(to Desire-to-be- Alone) 

To think of one's own self is at a loss. 

God's secret place is here! I bear no cross. 



182 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

I know thee, troops of persons, nations, 

things — 
Thou art desire-to-be-alone, which brings 
These barriers of hell to me and thee. 
Though multitudes are with me, I am free ! 

Desire-to-be- Alone 
Why should I go? I rest here so secure! 
Though every; nation fall, I shall endure. 
My gold is plentiful. I have great gain. 
I am protected, too, from war and pain! 

Nehemiah 
{To the woman) 
Desire to share, desire to do and give, 
Desire to lend thyself that men may live, — 
This, then, is joyous rest, — home, heaven, alL 
Desire to be with men, to heed the call 
Of all mankind, — yea, each desire to be 
With others brings life, immortality. 
Woman, thine isolation thou shalt give 
That all the nations of the world may live. 

(The woman plays with her toys.) 
Thou shalt yet leave thy nursery and come 
Out among men and make the world thine 

home. 
Thou shalt retain thy childlike joy and ways 
And thus redeem all nations. God be 

praised ! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 183 

Desire-to-be- Alone 
The troubles of this world are not for me, 
I shall remain alone, protected, free! 
Nehemiah 

(looking longingly toward the woman) 
Desire to be alone is worse than death, — 
It robs mankind of all. One's very breath 
Is giving and receiving. God is good, 
And in His law, all things are understood 
WTien men and nations speak of God each 

hour 
And long to be with others. Yea, the pow'r 
Of Truth is mighty as we know each one 
Who speaks proclaims the Father's will is 

done. 
(One by one as the messengers come to the 

support of the wall and surrender a na- 
tional emblem, Nehemiah bows his head 

in prayer.) 
Father, I thank Thee, thank Thee, I thank 

Thee. 
I thank Thee, Father, to be with Thee and 

Thine 
Own children, Thine own nations, Thine and 

mine! 
Father, I thank Thee. 
(Nehemiah turns away as if seeking no 

longer the woman's aid. He has not ob- 



184 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

served Enemy's cruel treatment of the 
lame child. The wall is about to crash. 
Each messenger now, with back to the 
wall, is aiding in the support. The woman 
reads calmly on and counts her gold.) 

Desire-to-be- Alone 

I love to be alone. This is my gain, — 

To stand aloof from war and want and pain. 

(As Nehemiah speaks, darkness enfolds the 

woman. She still endeavors to read.) 

Nehemiah 
(as if in prophecy) 

Friends, a nation's need 
One day shall be to dwell with others. Freed 
From lonely sepulchre, her men shall rise 
Leagued with a world, united. Paradise 
Is gained through guarding all earth's 

brotherhoood. 
This nation shall surrender naught of good. 
She having sought a quiet place of rest, 
Shall find her peace, all that is true and best, 
In dwelling with the nations of the earth, — 
A world shall waken, then, to Love's new 
birth. 

Desire-to-be-Alone 
God surely favored me when I was born 
So far remote from war and sin and harm ! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 185 

{Darkness as of the sepulchre enfolds the 
ivoman. The wall is about to crash.) 
Discouragement, leaving Nehemiah, 
suddenly beholds the woman sitting in 
darkness, and goes quickly to her.) 

Nehemiah 
Who dwells in peace with others shall not 

find 
Within the tomb a lonely dwelling place. 
Each one shall see his Maker face to face. 

(Nehemiah has turned away as if he had 
completely forgotten the woman. For the 
first time, he beholds Enemy's inhumane 
treatment of the lame child. Nehemiah 
snatches the Uuion Flag from Enemy's 
grasp and hides the emblem behind the 
wall. The child, still lame, but freed, 
hobbles laughingly to the woman. Stone 
after stone crashes unnoticed upon Nehe- 
miah's head.) 

Desire-to-be- Alone 
I see it all. I loved God well but men 
I have not loved! I shall awaken when 
My love for men is born, — the sons of earth. 

(clasping the lame child in her arms) 
I shall awaken then to Love's new birth. 



186 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

This joyous child shall talk and laugh and 

sing; 
And weep no more, — then shall earth's suffer- 
ing 
Forever cease. This child knows government 
As well as others since God's word is sent 
To rule. 

Nehemiah 
(As Enemy exits) 
This enemy of mine shall no more claim 
That he must govern all the earth. 
(Tenderly to the child) 

No name 
Like thine, dear child, the world shall ever 

know. 
Thou hast awakened men from self and woe. 
Nations and men awaken now to find 
There is one government, the law of Mind. 

( The woman, thrusting all of her gold within 
the Stars and Stripes, and holding by the 
hand the child, now walking straight 
hastens to the fast crumbling wall. The 
child, affectionately embracing each mes- 
senger in passing, goes to Nehemiah and 
lovingly takes his hand. The child joy- 
ously tosses his green flag over the wall. 
As the woman hurls past the wall the huge 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 187 

bundle of gold wrapped in the Stars and 
Stripes, the structure straightens but 
does not stand secure. The child, trans- 
formed, now strong and agile, expresses 
much joy while he dances vivaciously 
about. The woman, holding aloft the 
Book of the Laiv, enters in the dance with 
the child while they together pray the 
words of the Lord's prayer. Nehemiah 
and the messengers look up suddenly as 
if startled. With Nehemiah leading, all 
messengers holding their positions before 
the wall, join in the prayer of the woman 
and child, and as they pray, they dance. 
The wall stands almost if not quite secure. 
The woman, laughing joyously, stands at 
the right of the wall. Nehemiah and the 

messengers are at first startled at her 
joy, but, after a moment, they all join 
in her happiness. The woman at one 
end reads in the bright light the Book of 
the Law and, as she does so, the wall 
stands straight and true. The messengers, 
representing the nations of the world, 
stand at her left. Nehemiah at the ex- 
treme left with the Book of the Law in 
one hand, and ivith the other raised in 
grateful benediction, prays. In the bright 



188 THE KING\S CUPBEARER 

light it is seen that the woman is Under- 
standing.) 
This work is wrought of God. Yea, He, 

alone, 
Hath surely built this wall, stone upon stone. 

(to the woman) 
Thou art Desire-to-be-with-Others. See! 
(Pointing triumphantly to the messengers, 

who rest easily beside the fortified wall.) 
Woman, thine hand hath set the whole world 

free! 
'Tis plain why I alone have failed to save, 
I have been weary, burdened, far too grave. 
The world has need of childlike joy and rest, 
And true responsibility. 'Tis best 
That we should always build together now. 
While I must learn of thee, blest woman, 

thou 
May learn of me to love the sons of earth ; 
Thus shall we each rejoice in Truth's new 

birth. 
Thou art the Understanding men have 

sought 
So long, the childlike joy, not one has bought 
Save with the price of giving all. Blest one, 
Woman of Nations, God's will now is done! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 189 

Understanding 
From this time forth, my words are spoken 

last. 
Whene'er I speak, the woes of earth are past. 
My work is to be glad ! This is Truth's way 
Of doing all. 

(with hands extended joyously, the wpman 
laughs as she prays) 
Rejoicingly we pray ! 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 191 



CANTICLE IX 

Sabbath Rest, Followed by Evil's 
Accusations 

Description : Showing completed walls. The 
bright light of a Sabbath 
morning shines over all. 

Discovered: A vast company of men, 
women, and children, sing- 
ing praises for the comple- 
tion of the walls. 

All 

(singing together) 

"0 give thanks unto the Lord : for He is good ; 

for His mercy endureth forever. 
give thanks unto the God of gods; for His 

mercy endureth forever. 
give thanks to the Lord of lords ; for His 

mercy endureth forever. 
To Him who alone doeth great wonders ; for 
His mercy endureth forever." 

(Ps. 136:1-4.) 



192 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(Enter Nehemiah with Hanani 
and Hananiah) 
Nehemiah 
(to Hanani and Hananiah) 
I give thee charge over Jerusalem, — 
The while I depart to my lord, the King. 
Let thy singers sing a glad anthem; 
Everyone faithful let him praise and sing : 
Glory to God on High ! 

Hanani 
(to Nehemiah) 

I take thy charge. 
Nehemiah 
(to Hananiah) 
"Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened 

until the sun be hot ; 
And while they stand by, 
Let them shut the doors, and bar them : 
And appoint watches of the inhabitants of 

Jerusalem 
Every one in his watch, 
And every one to be over against his house." 
Thou art a captain, commanded to keep 
Watch over Israel ; faint not nor sleep. 

(Nehemiah 7:3.) 
Nehemiah 
(to Ezra, the Scribe) 
Bring the Book of the Law of Moses 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 193 

Which the Lord hath commanded to Israel. 

Bring the Book. Let its pages tell 

The words of the Law, which the Lord, our 

God 
Hath commanded to Israel. 
(Ezra, the priest, brings the Book of the Law 

before the men and women; and reads 

therein before the water gate. He stands 

upon a pulpit of wood. Beside him stand 

several men.) 

Ezra 
(reading from parchment Bible) 
"Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; 
Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of 

heavens, 
With all their host, the earth, and all the 

things that are therein, 
The seas, and all that is therein, 
And thou preserveth them all; 
And the host of heaven worshippeth thee. 
Thou art the Lord the God, who didst choose 

Abram, 
And broughtest him forth out of Ur of the 

Chaldees, 
And gavest him the name of Abraham; 
And didst see the affliction of our fathers 

in Egypt, 
And heardest their cry by the Red sea ; 



194 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

And shewedst signs and wonders upon 

Pharaoh, 
And on all his servants, and on all the people 

of his land: for thou knewest 
That they dealt proudly against them. 
And Thou did'st divide the sea before them, 

so 
That they went through the midst of the sea 
on the dry land." 

(Nehemiah 9:6, 7, 9, 10, 11.) 
(The people weep as the Law is read.) 
Nehemiah 
(to All) 
This day is holy unto the Lord your God ; 
Mourn not, nor weep. 
Mourn not, nor weep. 
Go your way (to the people ivho still weep), 

eat the fat, and drink the sweet, 
And send portions unto them for whom 

nothing is prepared: 
For this day is holy unto our Lord : 
Neither be ye sorry; 

For the joy of the Lord is your strength. 
The Levites 
(on either side of Ezra) 
"Hold your peace for the day is holy; 
Neither be ye grieved." 
(The people who have prostrated themselves 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 195 

rise with olive branches, and pine 
branches, and myrtle branches, and palms, 
and branches of thick trees, and sing to- 
gether.) 

All 
(singing together) 
This day is a day of gladness, 
For we have comprehended 
The words of the law which were read to us. 

Lord, Thy name we bless. 

(exeunt singers) 

Nehemiah 
(to Hanani) 

1 appoint thee keeper of this wall, 
And all Jerusalem. Pray, 

Let not vain pride, nor power nor human 

sway 
Cause one stone e'er to fall. 

(to Eliashib, a relative of Tobiah, 
pointing to temple) 
Watch o'er yon temple wisely. Israel 
Shall be redeemed. God keep thee! All is 

well! 
To-day I return to my lord, the King 
Of Babylon. Indeed, I go to bring 
Him homage, gratitude, and loyalty. 



196 the king's cupbearer 

All 
May peace and joy and health, be e'er with 

thee! 
(As the last words are spoken in farewell, 
enter two messengers from Artaxerxes, 
the King. All exeunt save Nehemiah.) 
First Messenger 
(hastily to Nehemiah) 
A letter to thee, sir, thy lord, the King, 
Commissioned me to come, quickly to bring 
This message. 

Nehemiah 
(Taking letter, reads it as if not understand- 
ing its contents. He continues to read, as 
if puzzled.) 

I was going there — to-day — 
To Persia— I seek to be a king? (reading) 

May 
I be punished if 'tis true, — I seek, — I 
(reading) To be a king? (puzzled) Of what 

and wherefore? Why 
Should I be king when there is One, alone, — 
The God in heaven? (reading) "And thou 

must well atone 
For all thy vanity. I trusted thee 
And now thou, traitor-like (reading), 

would'st pillage me 
Of mine own kingdom. Thou must surely be 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 197 

An ingrate, so Sanballat says, and he 
Hath proof whereof he speaks. I know no 

way 
Save punishment to curb thy wicked sway/' 

Second Messenger 
(while First Messenger steps to Nehemi- 

ah's side and both bind him with chains) 
We take thee prisoner. 

Nehemiah 
(to Messengers) 

I was to come 
Of myself as King's Cupbearer, (pondering) 

My home 
Is not an earthly kingdom. God is good, 
And He, indeed, hath surely understood. 
This work upon the walls, canst thou not 
see 

(pointing with chained hand to wall) 
Was truly mine own kingdom ! Just to free 
Another from the curse of poverty 
And sin and fear, my friends, is all I ask 
Of earthly kingdom, — just my daily task. 

(as if explaining a vision) 
I seek to be a king? If this should be, 
The friendship of the world is not for me. 
Who longs for understanding, now may gain 
The friendship of the world in Love's true 
name. 



198 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(Enter Understanding.,) 
Understanding 
(to Nehemiah) 
In years to come, a jealous world shall aim 
To drag a nation down to hell and shame, 
Brave nation, suffring, till her crown is cast 
Aside for work, — then creeds and caste shall 

last 
No more in churches, nations, business, — 

then 
We shall have peace among the sons of men. 
And when she no more governs, then man- 
kind 
Is governed by the healing word of good, — 
That day, Mind's law shall heal earth's 

brotherhood. 
In years to come, this nation's love shall hold 
Rightly its royal kingship till the gold 
Of character is chastened, — well refined — 
A kingdom shall retain her king, till Mind 
Shall reign supreme o'er all; then worlds 

shall prove 
The King of all the heav'n, and earth, is 

Love! 
(Exit Nehemiah bound with chains between 
the two messengers.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 199 



CANTICLE X 



Description: A vast underground rock 
quarry. Blinding smoke 
from the blasting. Deso- 
late, weird surroundings. 
Discovered: Several slaves and overseer 
silently at work crushing 
stones. They each groan 
under the desperate burden 
of the work. Sanballat 
and Geshem stand at one 
side and watch the workers 
with sinister glee. 
Time: Several years later. 
(Enter Nehemiah. He is carrying heavy 
blasting materials. He lays down his bur- 
den and begins hewing out the largest of 
the rocks. As he works, just above him 
Understanding holds aloft the Declara- 
tion of Independence and drops this 
precious manuscript, page by page, into 
the fire below. Nehemiah smiles grate- 
fully at Understanding and, taking from 
his bosom a crown of gold, heightened 



200 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

with four crosses, he drops it thought- 
fully in the flames below. Again Nehe- 
miah glimpses the completed Temple and 
tvall of Jerusalem. A wondrous city lies 
beyond. His work upon the stones is 
easily accomplished. Finally, a vision of 
the Statue of Liberty appears at the 
entrance to earth's Promised Land. For 
a brief moment, Nehemiah extends both 
hands as if in joyous greeting to the 
womanly traits of love and tenderness, 
typified in this statue, which must 
eventually spiritualize the universe; and 
as he reaches out his hands, the very 
stones about him fall of themselves to 
pieces as if made ready for use without 
human effort. All about Nehemiah, the 
other slaves who behold no vision, are 
moaning bitterly over their tasks. San- 
ballat, Geshem, and Tobiah discern Ne- 
hemiah's joy and work. Together they 
plan to further punish Nehemiah. Dur- 
ing this scene, no word is spoken.) 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 201 



CANTICLE XI 



"There Is Nothing Covered, That Shall 
Not Be Revealed;" 

(Matthew 10:26.) 

Description : Same as Canticle I. The Per- 

sian Court. 
Discovered: King Artaxerxes and Queen 
on throne. Royal festivities. 
A strange Cupbearer is 
serving wine. 
Time : Nine years later than Canticle 

VIII. 
The King 
(to Messenger) 
And so Sanballat comes to us to-day? 
Messenger 
(to King) 
Blest King, Sanballat comes, and Geshem, 
too. 

The King 
{observing the new Cupbearer as he goes 
about his task serving wine — to Messen- 
ger) 



202 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Tell me, how is my Cupbearer of time long 
past? 

Messenger 
(to King) 
Nehemiah? 

King and Queen 
(eagerly, together) 
Nehemiah. 

Messenger 
'Tis true to watch and pray 
And work, is all he ever seeks to do. 

The King 
Some one has said his peace and joy e'er last. 

Messenger 
Tis very true ; the hardest, roughest task 
Is not too much, indeed, for him to ask 
To do. 

The King 

Where is he working now, my son? 

Messenger 

(to King) 

He toils within thy quarries, till the sun 

Sinks low. Thou dost, blest King of Persia, 

know 
That he was doomed with convict-slaves to 

give 
His days to crushing stones, that he might 
live, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 203 

Or merely might exist through days of woe, — 
This was his punishment, my Lord and King. 
Because Sanballat said he sought to bring 
Himself to higher power,— to rule, perchance, 
Within Jerusalem. 

The King 
(pondering) 

He has had chance 
To murmur (thinking deeply). Yea, I know 

that he was sent 
To toil on yonder pile of stones, till bent 
And old he should become. 

(As if arousing to new interest.) 

Does he complain? 

Messenger 

Not at his work! He holds as richest gain 

A task that takes all courage. There are 

days 
When those who watch him toil, say that he 

prays 
Unceasingly. 

The King 
What is his prayer? 

Messenger 
That fortified Jerusalem may stand. 

The King 
Would he return? 



204 the king's cupbearer 

Messenger 
Of this he does not pray. He ofttimes says 
With deepest love, that God in His own ways 
Must keep Jerusalem — shall guard it well — 
That God is King, alone. 

The King 
And does he tell 
Of his own wondrous work upon the wall? 

Messenger 
Not once. He always prays no stone may 

fall. 
(Enter Sanballat and Geshem with sev- 
eral attendants. They all kneel before the 
King and Queen. The King gives them 
(permission to arise.) 
The King 
(to Sanballat and Geshem) 
Governors, thy wishes? 

Sanballat 

We came to say 
The punishment thou gav'st still does not 

stay 
His joy. 

The King 
What meanest thou? Speak on. 

Sanballat 
Nine years ago, we came and told thee, King, 
Of one knave, Nehemiah. We would bring 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 205 

Thee safety, King, again to-day. Ye gave 
A punishment to him, nine years ago, 
Because he sought to make himself a knave 
In trying to be king. I told thee this, 
I come once more to tell thee, thou shouldst 

know 
He truly seems to love the task that thou 
Hast given him for punishment, and now 
It would seem wise to change his work again, 
And give him duties that would cause him 

pain. 

The King 

(incredulously) 

Thou sayest he loves his toil as felon slave? 

Geshem 
(to King) 
He truly does! Ha, ha, (scornfully) he is a 
knave. 

The King 
(thoughtfully) 
What shall I give him, then, to do that he 
May still be punished for disloyalty? 

Sanballat 

(wickedly) 

It may seem strange, indeed, to thee, blest 

King, 
But I have thought it would be suffering 



206 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

For him, if thou wouldst bring him unto 

thee, 
Within thy court, and offer fealty 
And homage to him, give him ease and gain. 
I know him well! (chuckling) I'm sure, to 

him, 'twere pain 
To idle festive hours away in ease. 
I surely know, he would not relish these 
Gay, feasting days of Court life. Ah, I know 
To him it would be misery and woe. 
The King 
(doubtfully) 
To him it would be misery and woe? 
Sanballat 
(with decision) 
To him, it would be misery and woe. 
The King 
(to Court Messengers) 
Bring Nehemiah, and each convict slave 
Who toils on yonder pile. It is the hour 
Of day when each is coming from his work. 
Geshem 
(delightedly) 
Ah, we shall see again that fool and knave 
Who loves his labor. King, increase thy 

power, 
And give him work that he will loathe and 
shirk, — 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 207 

Give Nehemiah work that he will hate ! 
Sanballat 
(to King) 
'Twould be just punishment. Why longer 

wait? 
(Enter Messengers and several galley slaves, 
including the overseer of the squad of 
toilers.) 

Messenger 

(to King) 

Thy subjects, King of Persia, now are here. 

(pointing to slaves) 

Overseer 
(explaining to King) 
Save Nehemiah ; he had work o'er there, 
Upon yon pile of stones. He ever stays 
Long past the hours of all his working days. 
I say, "Enough's enough!" We toil all day, 
Yea, thirteen hours, — more than this time, 

I say 
We cannot serve! The hours are very long, 
Except for him who always works with song 
Upon his lips. For him, the day is ever very 

brief ; 
But for the rest of us, 

(with wave of hand he indicates the 
slaves about him) 

King, our grief 



208 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Is very great! 

The King 
(addressing the other slaves) 
My men, and what say'st thou? 
Men 
(almost moaning) 
King, for the rest of us, our misery 
Is very great. 

Sanballat 
(eagerly) 
I told thee so, my King ! 
This Nehemiah should have suffering, 
Deep suffering, and pain, and want, and woe ! 
Geshem 
(to King) 
This man who sought to be a King should 

know 
The pangs of hell. His work should day by 

day 
Be weary burden wearing life away. 
The King 
(to Messenger) 
Bring Nehemiah, tell him I send word 
For him to come at once, — let this be heard. 
(exit Messenger hastily) 
(to Sanballat and Geshem with tone 
indicating doubt) 
I took thy oaths, my Governors, the day 



THE KING'S CUPBEABER 209 

I sent him to yon stone pile. Now the way 
Grows complicated. What am I to do 
To punish him? It may, indeed, be true 
He hath not yet atoned ; and, yet, I trust, 
We have judged righteous judgment. Ah, 

we must 
Ask Nehemiah's God this time to tell 
Just what is right to do, — that which is well. 
(The King bows his head a moment, as if in 
prayer. The Queen, also, bows her head 
reverently. Sanballat and Geshem 
shift from one foot to another, clear their 
throats, and appear annoyed.) 
Sanballat 
(anxiously interrupting, to King) 
The question is a simple one. I know 
An easy life at Court would bring him woe. 
(enter Nehemiah) 
Nehemiah 
(he has grown older, yet more radiant; he is 
dressed as a rough workman) 
(joyously) 
King, hast thou sent for me to come, I pray? 

The King 
(Appears deeply moved. The Queen looks 
at Nehemiah with the tender expression 
of a mother.) 
Yea, Prince, (pauses as if embarrassed) I 



210 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

sent for thee — (hesitatingly) for thee — 

to say- 
That thou shalt live in ease within my sight, 
As royal Cupbearer. Thou may'st begin 
To choose thine own attendants. Bring the 

ring 
And royal robe (to attendant). 
(Attendant brings at once a costly satin robe 

of many colors and places the garment 

tenderly in Nehemiah's hands. Nehe- 

miah drops the robe quickly to the ground 

and covers his face with his hands as if 

grieved.) 
Thou shalt have riches, honor, power, might. 
(Nehemiah picks the robe up from the floor 

as if fulfilling a duty. He shudders as his 

rough hands touch the soft satin.) 
Why speakest thou not to me? Hast thou 

naught 
To say, thou menial slave, with ransom 

bought 
And paid for by thy King? Wouldst thou 

not come 
And serve as Cupbearer within my home 
And court? 

Nehemiah 
(to King while he looks longingly toward 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 211 

the Overseer) 
King, there is much to do, as he {indicating 

Overseer) can tell. 
I should not leave my work. 'Twould not be 

well 
With thee (to Overseer) and all thy men 

(turning to slaves) 

(Nehemiah, still holding the costly robe, 
stands among the toilers. Unthinkingly, 
he begins stroking the soft satin garment. 
His hands, rough with toil, catch harshly 
on the soft satin. He shudders. To King.) 

Blest King, my very hands are hardened now 

To toil, — to roughest work. Why should I 
cease 

My labors? There are those to serve, I vow, 

Much fitter, in this Court. Pray, call on 
these, 

And let me go. Blest King, (pleadingly) 

they're needing me, 

These men (indicating slaves) are not so 
strong as I. 

Ah, see 

My brawny arms ! (bares his muscular arms) 

The Overseer 
(to King) 
My King, one word, 



212 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

When he (indicating Nehemiah) first came 

to me, I, too, had heard 
How he had sought to be a king o'er there, 
Within Jerusalem. I took great care 
To make his punishment full hard, King. 
I heaped upon him curses ! Suffering 
Became his daily portion ! Yea, I know 
He had full measure in his meed of woe. 
I hated him! And why? — I cannot tell, — 
I longed to see him suffer pangs of helL 
Queen and King 
(eagerly, as if suffering) 
And did he suffer? 

Overseer 
At first, there were days 
When all his stones seemed mountains. 

Bitter ways, 
My King, belong unto the felon-slave. 
Well doth he pay for all the hours he gave 
To sin. 

The King 
(to Overseer) 
And this man (indicating Nehemiah ), did 
he murmur much? 

Overseer 
(to King) 
Ah, no, my King, I never have seen such 
As he ! With every stone he toiled to break. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 213 

It fairly seemed, he did arise, awake, 
To higher things ! My King, I cannot lend 
Him even unto thee — he is our friend ! 
{the Overseer and slaves crowd lovingly 

d&O^ NEHEMIAH ) 
{Startled) Ah, what have I said? Shall I be 

punished more? 
I told the truth but did not think before 
I spoke! 

King 

{to all — with firmness) 

But I have spoken, and my word 

Is first and last our law, — it must be heard! 

Sanballat) 

{laughing wickedly, — to Geshem) 

His {indicating Nehemiah) happy days, I 

know, are truly past, 
We have accomplished all we wish at last ! 

King 

{to Nehemiah) 

Speak up, and tell me — what hast thou to 

say 
About thy work? 

Nehemiah 
{to King) 
My King, just now, the way 
Is very bright for me, upon yon pile 



214 1HE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Of stones ; if I might work there for a while 
(pleadingly) 

I know that I might help these men (indica- 
ting slaves). I stand 

Ready to serve, my King (pleadingly) . We 
have had good 

Days yonder ! (As if pointing to stone pile.) 
If one only understood! (earnestly) 

(Regretfully) If I should — come — (slowly) 
— to thee — I know — that — I — 

Can do no more than come, alas, and try 

To serve thee well. (As if convincing himself 
of a duty. Enter Understanding. She 
smiles approvingly.) 

King 

(to Nehemiah) 
Hast thou forgotten, pray 
Doth memory recall that long past day 
Thou wrought upon the towering walls that 

stand 
About Jerusalem? 

Nehemiah 
(joyously) 
Ah, King, my hand 
Still builds those walls. 



the king's cupbearer 215 

King 

(startled) 
Thy hand still builds those walls? 

Nehemiah 

(to King) 

Ah, yes, blest King, and not a stone e'er falls. 

Each rock I crush o'er there, it is, indeed, 

For these redeemed captives. Yea, their 

need 
Is yet my prayer, King. 
King 
(eagerly) 

And wouldst thou go 
To view those walls again? Speak, let me 

know! 

(Leans forward eagerly. Nehemiah kneels 

at feet of King.) 

Sanballat and Geshem 

(afraid) 

King, why speakest thou so? Art thou, then, 

mad? 
This is his wish to go, — his prayer, ah, had — 
We our own way — 

King 
(interrupting, firmly) 
Hold, fools! I listened once 
To all thou hadst to say. I, too, was dunce 



216 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

And knave, indeed, to heed thy foolish lies! 
This man, (bending forward, as he tenderly 
places his hand on Nehemiah's bowed 
head) is Prince, indeed; yea, he may rise 
And go again to view those walls. His creed 
Of kingship is to meet each human need 
With love. He truly was a king o'er there, 
E'en at Jerusalem, and monarch where 
Those felon-slaves were toiling day by day. 
To be a king is just to watch and pray! 
I see it now, yea, all is very plain; 
He seeks no earthly kingship. No, nor gain 
Is there for him in title when he knows 
The joy of daily work where'er he goes. 
(Summons messengers and whispers direc- 
tions. They chain Sanballat and Ge- 
SHEM together.) 

(To Sanballat and Geshem) 
Go forth from me ! Thy faces nevermore 
Shall look on mine ! Go forth, the open door 
Of Hades waits for every cursed lie 
That would besmirch true manhood. They 

shall die, — 
These falsehoods, every one, but man is free, 
Born of one true Creator, God, is he! 
Such is the teaching of his ministry. 
(indicating Nehemiah, to Sandballat and 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 217 

Geshem) 
Thou shalt be punished. All that thou hast 

said, 
Each idle word thou uttered stand'st as curse 
Of wrong before thee. Yea, thou shalt be fed 
By jealousy. Ah, could'st thou suffer worse? 

(Sanballat and Geshem with heads bowed 
in shame depart. They are bound between 
two messengers.) 

{To Nehemiah, waving him permission to 

arise.) 
To-morrow, thou and I, and all these men, 

{indicating slaves) 
With our blest Queen, and Court, shall go 

again 
To see Jerusalem. 

Nehemiah 

(to King; 

{gratefully) 

Blest King, our gain 
Shall be to find those walls still strongly 

stand, — 
This is our kingdom, Sire. 
King 
{to Nehemiah) 

I pledge my hand 
That I regret those long and bitter days 



218 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

That thou hast toiled on pile of stones. The 

ways 
Of blind revenge are hard, indeed, to bear. 

(Weeps.) 

Nehemiah 
My King, I pray thee, do not have a care 
For those days; they were sweet, indeed, to 

me, — 
Those blessed hours I knew that I might be 
A friend to all I wrought with. Even, then, 
As slaves condemned, we still were friends 

and — men. 
Jerusalem ! (Extending his arms as if to an 

invisible City, while Understanding 

smiles radiantly.) I see thy walls again, 
Rising about me. Father, (eyes raised to 

heaven) I am blest 
With all thine hand hath given me ! I pray 
To thank Thee ever on my homeward way. 
Jerusalem, I saw thy walls arise 
Above yon pile of stones ! King, my surprise 
Was very great when I, awake, didst see 
The heavenly city come to set me free 
From all my weary toil and suffering! 
Ah, thou shalt see Jerusalem, my King! 
The new Jerusalem, with walls built high, — 
High unto heaven that he who passeth by 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 219 

May see the remnant now is safe, indeed, 
Within the city, coming down from heaven, 
The city, founded peaceably, and given 
To Love and Life and joy and work; yea, 

these 
Are its foundation stones. 

Understanding 

The God of peace 
Hath built Jerusalem! And, over all, 
The Father watcheth tenderly! The wall 
Of His protecting love stands strong and true 
About the remnant ! Israel's captive Jew 
Hath been redeemed! He is not bond, nor 

free, 
Nor male, nor female, Jew, nor Greek is he ! 
Messiah's hope shall free! The world shall 

see 

(to all, as if prophesying) 
Jerusalem! Father, thanks be to Thee. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 221 



CANTICLE XII. 



Casting Personal Ownership, Human 

Goodness and Human Power out of 

the Temple. Salvation. 

Description: Same as Canticle VIII. 

Discovered : All the people gathered before 
the walls at mid-day. 

Time: Ten days later. 

All 
(intoning) 

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness 
thereof; 

The world, and they that dwell therein. 

For he hath founded it upon the seas, 

And established it upon the floods. 

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? 

Or who shall stand in His holy place? 

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart ; 

Who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, 

Nor sworn deceitfully. 

He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, 

And righteousness from the God of his sal- 
vation. 



222 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Lift up your heads, ye gates; 

And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors: 

And the King of glory shall come in. 

Who is this King of glory? 

The Lord strong and mighty, 

The Lord mighty in battle. 

Lift up your heads, ye gates ; 

Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors: 

Ard the King of glory shall come in. 

Who is the King of glory? 

The Lord of hosts, 

He is the King of glory." (Psalm 24.) 
Ezra 

(Reading, before the people, from Isaiah 
52:1.) 

"Awake, awake ; put on thy strength, Zion ; 

put on thy beautiful garments, Jerusalem, 

the holy city: for henceforth there shall na 

more come into thee the uncircumcised and 

the unclean." 

(Closes the book, and turning, looks intently 
at the temple. All the people look toward 
the temple. Eliashib is seen running up 
and down the steps of the temple carry- 
ing armsful of Tobiah's personal belong- 
ings, such as robes, caps, shoes, etc. Some 
of these belongings he occasionally drops, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 223 

and they are carelessly strewn about the 
temple steps. ) 
(Turning about and addressing the people.) 
Our friend, Cupbearer of the King, returns 
to-day. 

All 
(shouting gladly) 
Ah ha, he comes — he comes — the way 
Of peace is Nehemiah's. 

(Eliashib is busied in the door of the 

temple with his own personal work.) 

Ezra 

(disapprovingly to Eliashib) 

A good word 
Hast thou to say to him? 

Eliashib 
(carelessly to Ezra) 
Yea, I have wrought 

Within this temple, just as he has taught. 
Ezra 
(to Eliashib) 
For thyself, alone, hast wrought? 
Eliashib 
(to Ezra) 
At times, 'tis true. 

All work may not be given for Greek and 
Jew. 



224 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(Hanani and Hananiah are sleeping 
soundly at one end of the porch of the 
temple. Sleep, in dull colors, is watching 
jealously over them.) 

Ezra 

(pointing derisively toward the sleepers) 

Yet they were truly left in charge! Yon 
temple wall 

They have not guarded. Even though it fall, 

Would they awake? (The sleepers, breath- 
ing heavily, move, in their sleep, over 
very near to the edge of the porch.) Ah, 
lethargy, I know 

Of none more deadly enemy and foe! (point- 
ing toward sleepers) 

Nor home, nor church thou guardest when 
with sleep 

Thine eyes are heavy. A still small voice 
will come, 

And sadly say: "Couldst thou not watch 
one hour, 

And keep a loving guard o'er church and 
home?" 

(A loud blare of trumpets is heard without. 
Enter chariots and drivers, Court attend- 
ants, King Artaxerxes and Queen, for- 
mer slaves dressed as nobles. Nehemiah 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 225 

enters last, accompanied by the five beau- 
tiful women, Wakefulness, Intuition, 
Discernment, Faith and Understand- 
ing. 

Nehemiah 
(to All) 

Greeting, my friends. (All bow reverently.) 

The walls (examining walls carefully) still 
stand, I see. 

I thank thee for thy true fidelity! (Again 
bows to all.) 

(At this moment, Eliashib and Tobiah 
emerge from the temple, carrying softest 
of down pilloivs, images, robes, and many 
personal belongings. Nehemiah discerns 
this proceeding, and bounding joyously 
up the steps of the temple, lovingly greets 
Eliashib.) 

So thou (tenderly) 

Hast prepared for God a great chamber, 

Where aforetime our fathers laid their meat 
offerings, 

The frankincense, and the vessels, and the 
tithes of the corn, 

The new wine and the oil, which was com- 
manded to be given to the Levites, and 
the singers, and the porters ; 



226 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

And the offerings of the priests? 
The King 
(to Nehemiah) 
I, Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, 
Bear witness, in all this time, 
Thou wert not at Jerusalem. 

Queen and COURT 
(together) 
We bear witness, Nehemiah, King's Cup- 
bearer. 

Nehemiah 

{to Court) 

Worthy King and Queen and Court of 

Artaxerxes Longimanus, 
Thou bearest witness, in all this time, 
I was not at Jerusalem. 

The King 
This cursed ownership is not thy shame; 
Thou art exonerated, free from blame! 

Nehemiah 
(to King) 
I thank thee for this judgment, still I call 
Upon thee for a higher sentence. All 
I ask is, let me share their blame. I know 
Sin's devious ways through finite church, and 

though 
They have built for themselves, 'tis true that 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 227 

they (indicating Eliashib and Tobiah) 
Are eager now to watch and work and pray. 
To leave them with a pow'r they could not 

prove 
In one brief moment, truly was not love. 
I should have stood with them. In Church, 

I know 
Are devious ways of self and pride and woe. 
Even the quarries there at Babylon 
Should not have held me. Truly, we are one 
In blame and Love's forgiveness. We are 

freed 
Together, they and I, to meet earth's need. 

King, Queen and Court 
(together) 

This is our judgment. They and thou art 

freed 
And all the world to meet mankind's great 

need. 

Nehemiah 
(to King, Queen and Court) 
I do thank thee for this just decision, 
Thou King and Queen and Court of Babylon. 
In years to come, I can behold a day 
When no one proves another wrong. The 

sway 
Of human creeds will then have passed away. 



228 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

There shall be no divisions then, that hour, 
Of just and unjust. God's unerring pow'r 

Shall rule all men. 
To-day Truth's temple cannot be profaned; 
None enter there as thieves in Mind's clear 

sight. 

(Tobiah, hearing the conversation without, 

comes to the door of the temple, and 

yawns as if awakened from a long sleep.) 

For himself none has wrought, not one has 

gained, 
For God is the Lord of right. 
Ezra 
{to Nehemiah) 
Stay 
{pointing derisively to Tobiah) 
His cursed selfishness. 

Nehemiah 
I raise no questions with him. God is good. 
In Church all men are truly understood. 
{pointing lovingly to Eliashib and Tobiah) 

Foir himself no one has wrought, no one 
gained, 

For God is the Lord of right. 

(Eliashib and Tobiah re-enter the temple 
and returning again to the door, cast out, 
far beyond the wall, their household stuff. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 229 

Both men take their places with the group 
of workers. Servants come with water 
for cleansing. During this process, the 
singers flee from the stage, every one re- 
turning to his own field.) 

Ezra 

(to Nehemiah) 
I perceive that the portions of the Levites 
Have not been given them. (Looking about 

where the singers stood.) 
For the Levites and the singers that did the 

work 
Are fled every one to his field. 
(Addressing the rulers, and pointing toward 

the empty temple.) 
Why is the house of God forsaken? 

Nehemiah 
(Boivs his head in prayer.) 
The house of God can never be forsaken. 

(to rulers) 
And Labor's portion never can be lost. 
No one can own this sacred place. (Tobiah 

and Eliashib nod assent.) 
Naught e'er can drive a worker out 
Of Church. There is no fear, no doubt, 
Nor death, nor ownership, nor creed, 
That e'er can keep a worker from his meed. 



230 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

No one can own outright goodness and grace, 
Each worker must forever fill his place, 
And earn the loving wage of giving all. 
(Eliashib and Tobiah drop their personal 
belongings.) 

Rulers 
(repeating with emphasis) 

Each now pays the price 
Of giving all ! 

Ezra 
(to Nehemiah) 
(Observing Hanani and Hananiah, sleep- 
ing, while Sleep watchfully guards them.) 
Why is mankind so loath to keep awake? 
Is God not good to think of? Why, then, 

sleep 
Away one's precious hours ? Arise, and shake 
This cursed lethargy aside. 

(goes to edge of porch and gives men 

vigorous shaking) 

(Both men wake. Exit Sleep very quietly.) 

Nehemiah 
(to all) 
Men keep the faith today and bless, indeed, 
The earth since wakefulness is their one 

creed. 
(As Nehemiah speaks, Human Goodness, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 231 

wearing a long silken wrap and costly 
furs, appears in the door of the temple. 
Persecution stands close beside her. 
Creeds of Men, in ecclesiastical garb, 
endeavors to enter. Human Goodness 
refuses to let him pass into the temple. 
Persecution holds a handkerchief to the 
eyes of Human Goodness as she weeps.) 

Human Goodness 
(Weeping while Persecution wipes her 
eyes.) 
Church is my place of refuge. There I weep 
And hide, e'en after lethargy and sleep 
And ownership all have been cast aside. 
In church I weep and whisper, sneer and 

hide! 
I weep for all the sins of everyone 
Except myself. I do not sin! Fve won 
Through ages, fulsome praise of human good, 
And yet, I'm neither loved nor understood. 
Ezra 
(to Nehemiah) 
Call all Judah, (gladly) let them bring 
The tithe of corn and new wine, 
And oil to fill our empty treasuries ; 
Let them gather the fruit from the field and 

vine, 
That our God in heaven we please ! 



232 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

(Nehemiah appears contented, as if he were 

refusing to assume false responsibility.) 

Nehemiah 

The voice of All in Church /redeems the 

earth. 
The voice of All speaks with Love's mighty 

worth. 
The voice of All in Church calls men to give 
Truth's corn and wine that mankind now may 
live. 

Shemaiah, the Priest 
(To Nehemiah, as Human Goodness and 
Persecution persist in obstructing the 
door of the temple so that All Creeds 
cannot enter.) 
Prince, wilt thou not rebuke this cursed lie 
Of Human Goodness, lest all men should die ? 

Nehemiah 
(Nehemiah smiles approvingly at Human 

Goodness and Persecution.) 
I see in each the image of blest Mind ; 
Each face I see is gentle, patient, kind. 

Nehemiah 
(to Shemaiah, the Priest, Zadok, the 
Scribe, Pedaiah of the Levites and 
Hanan.) 
Thou hast been faithful, for thou 
Hast distributed unto thy brethren. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 233 

(Enter men and women and children. They 
are all carrying baskets of corn and wine 
and oil.) 

All 
We come, blest Nehemiah, here to-day 
To praise the King of kings and watch and 

pray. 
(Enter men with ware, selling fish. They go 
directly to the nobles and give them their 
earnings.) 

Zadok 
(to Nehemiah) 
What evil thing is this that they do, 
And profane the Sabbath day? 
Nehemiah 
(to the Nobles) 
Business can ne'er profane the Sabbath day. 
When men go to their Church e'en as they go 
To work, then all earth's sin shall pass away. 
There can be no more sickness, pain nor woe 
When Church becomes the quiet resting place 
Of all the world's activities ; we then 
Shall see our Maker ever face to face ; 
Business and Church shall be the home of 
men, 

(as if in prophecy) 
I see on earth Church and true .business rise 
Together in one temple. Paradise 



234 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Shall then be this earth's dwelling place for 

all. 
The chimes of Church shall ring and truly 

call 
All men to work. 
(Nobles stand reverently with bowed heads. 

Darkness creeps on suddenly, as if a 

storm were rising. The gates are open.) 
All 
Let all the gates be shut this night, 
And opened not till after the Sabbath day. 
Let all the gates be shut! 
( The iron gates swing forcefully shut, and as 

they close the setting sun shines forth 

with wondrous splendor.) 

Human Goodness 
(to those who sell fish) 
Why lodg'st thou about the wall? What right 
Hast thou to profane the Sabbath day? 
I always keep the rest, a Sabbath rest, 
I work unselfishly for God alone. 

Nehemiah 
I learned of Understanding years ago 
How to relinquish human care and woe! 
(Enter several young men talking to young 
women of foreign birth. The women have 
low, degraded appearance. They are all 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 235 

intoxicated. Loud, coarse jesting and vul- 
gar caressing.) 

The Young Men 

(to Nehemiah) 

Nehemiah, (laughing boisterously) our 

wives of foreign birth ! 

Nehemiah 

(to the Young Men) 

I raise no questions with them. They are 

thine 
Own choice, and thus they must be mine. 

Human Goodness 
(weeping) 
(To one young man) And thou, now 
Wouldst wed strange wives ! 
(To another) And thou? 
Thou seekest e'er thine own 
And not another's good ! 

Ezra 
Strange fancies have we when we seek our 

own, 
And not another's good. None can atone 
For wrong; forever it is cast without, 
With "dogs, and sorcerers," with creeds and 

doubts ! 
Strange wives, strange creeds, strange gods, 

strange idle prayers, 



236 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Strange deprivations, strange diseases, 
cares ! 

Persecution 
(prpudly) 

I always must atone 
For wrong! 

Human Goodness 

Forever I have cast wrong out! 

Strange creeds can never enter here. No 

doubt, 
Nothing unworthy e'er has passed my door; 
Though I am best of all the earth, no more 
Men seek me. (She stands alone.) 
(to Nehemiah) 
See, ye built this wall. 
Art thou, then, not afraid that it will fall? 
The King will give thee pow'r to command; 
All things in church are under thine own 

hand. 
(The women of strange birth, with Creeds OF 
Men, try to enter the temple. Human 
Goodness drives them back.) 
Nehemiah 
(compassionately, to Human Goodness and 

Persecution) 
Keep all my human power, if ye choose; 
In losing it, it is no thing to lose. 
Keep all my human goodness. God is good, 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 237 

With Him, all men are truly understood. 

Divine authority is mine this hour, 

And thine. God giveth man in Church Love's 

pow'r. 
God giveth man in Church the right to speak 
Words that will comfort all the worn and 

weak 
And burdened sons of earth. This is man's 

right, — 
Divine authority and endless right. 

(As Nehemiah surrenders all human power 
and human goodness, the wives of strange 
birth are seen to be the radiant daugh- 
ters of Shallum. Exit Human Good- 
ness. She appears crushed. Enter 
Discernment. All crowd about Nehe- 
miah. Exeunt Creeds of Men and 
Persecution.) 

(Enter Understanding. She stands in the 
door of the Temple and lovingly welcomes 
all. The people with baskets of corn and 
wine and oil on their arms sing together.) 

All 
(Led by Understanding and Nehemiah, the 
people walk in groups on the towering 
heights of the walls. Nehemiah, passes 



238 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

to each a Book of the Law and immedi- 
ately Understanding gives to each 
another Book of the Law. The people 
hold these books aloft, one in the right 
hand and the other in the left, and read 
as they walk. The last rays of the setting 
sun shine softly over the procession of 
singers.) 

(Singing together.) 

"Create in me a clean heart, God ; 

And renew a right spirit within me. 

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation ; 

And uphold me with thy free spirit. 

Thou delightest not in sacrifice; 

Thou hast no pleasure in burnt offerings. 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit : 

A broken and a contrite heart, God, thou 
wilt not despise. 

Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion : 

Build Thou the walls of Jerusalem. 

Build Thou the walls of Jerusalem." 

Nehemiah 
(hands uplifted to heaven — to the men and 

women on the heights of the walls) 
"Remember me, my God, concerning this, 
And wipe not out my good deeds that I have 
done 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 239 

For the house of my God, and for the offices 

thereof — 
Remember me, my God, for good." 
For I, as "The King's Cupbearer," 
Bring peace and joy to earth. 
Yea, I, as "The King's Cupbearer," 
Herald mankind's new birth. 
I prophesy peace, salvation. 
Jerusalem, saved, begins 
To mould the world in one nation 
And cleanse earth's temple of sins — 
Sins that have stirred through malice 
Earth's nations to war and hate. 
Jerusalem holds the chalice 
Of Love at her heavenly gate. 
Within Jerusalem, all men shall be 
Both male and female, sinless, deathless, free. 

(Understanding, Wakefulness, Intui- 
tion, Faith and Discernment stand on 
the highest point of the walls looking ten- 
derly down to Nehemiah. They typify 
collectively the womanly quality of spir- 
itual understanding which redeems all 
business, men, nations and churches. As 
these women walk upon the walls, they 
are intently reading two Books of the 
Law, which they hold aloft in either hand. 



240 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

Brilliant rays of the setting sun light up 
the pages of the open Books.) 

Father, we thank Thee that Love's marriage 
feast 

Is now prepared for all mankind. The least 

Thy grateful children o'er the earth can say 

Is: "Father, we thank Thee tenderly to- 
day." 

"Our feet shall stand within thy gates, 
Jerusalem. 

Jerusalem is builded as a city that is com- 
pact together: 

Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the 
Lord, 

Unto the testimony of Israel, 

To give thanks unto the name of the Lord, 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem : 

They shall prosper that love thee." Psalm 122. 

(Nehemiah gratefully beholding Under- 
standing, who looks down from the 
highest point of the wall, lovingly ad- 
dresses her.) 

From this time forth no one shall speak on 
earth 

Save Understanding. Men now know the 
worth 

Of Understanding's healing pow'r and might. 



THE KING'S CUPBEARER 241 

(with head bpwed in prayer) 
Father, o'er all the earth, "Let there be 
light!" 

Understanding 
(with hands extended, looks down from the 
highest point of the wall) 
(in prayer) 
Now the glorious day 
Of understanding dawns, Thy servants may 
Lodge in Jerusalem eternally. 
With Anglo-Israel wedded, men shall rise, 
Triumphant over self. Earth's paradise 
Shall dawn for Judah. On this wedding 

morn, 
All men are satisfied, yea, newly born. 
Triumphant on the walls of Church, they 

stand, 
All men and creeds together. Hand in hand, 
Blest Capital and Labor, too, shall give 
Themselves! in wedlock that all men may live. 
This is earth's wondrous wedding, — Love 

shall bind 
Nations and men together. They shall find 
In unity, "no questions" can be "raised." 
They shall be bound in wedlock. God be 

praised ! 
(These words portray salvation for all Cap- 
ital and Labor, nations and creeds on 



242 THE KING'S CUPBEARER 

earth, brought about by the union of the 
great Anglo-Saxon countries, the United 
Kingdom pf Great Britain and Ireland 
and the United States { of America, includ- 
ing in this indissoluable union all nations 
on earth. Thus the vision of perpetual 
peace is fulfilled, the waste walls of 
Jerusalem are rebuilt, and the pne 
Nation, Temple or Church, the Kingdom 
of Heaven, appears.) 



Composition by H. C. Brock 

Printing by Udell Printing Service 

Cover Design and Binding by The Dean-Hicks Company 



